By Joel van der Veen

CRAIK — Two weeks after receiving a proposal to restructure the Town of Craik as an organized hamlet, councillors have concluded that the decision isn’t theirs to make.

At the close of a special meeting on Thursday, members of town council did not make a formal resolution, but agreed to issue a statement, as worded by Coun. David Ashdown.

“It is not within the jurisdiction of this council to either approve or reject the proposal to change the status of the town to an organized hamlet,” reads the statement.

“We recognize the importance of finding a financially viable solution to providing potable water, and we are committed to pursuing and examining all possible options.”

A delegation from the Water Task Force, consisting of members Dermot McCaw and Mark Wegner, had visited council during its Feb. 11 meeting.

They brought with them a proposal that the town look into restructuring itself and effectively becoming part of the rural municipality, as a last-ditch effort to obtain the necessary resources to address its looming infrastructure costs.

Councillors had tabled the proposal and agreed to discuss it at a special meeting two weeks later. None of them appeared enthusiastic about the idea of losing town status and effectively ceding control to the RM.

“It doesn’t look very good,” said Mayor Rick Rogers. “We’d be really going backwards if we turned ourselves into a hamlet.”

Ashdown said he appreciated the idea being brought forward and that it had generated plenty of conversation, but challenged the idea that council could be the catalyst for that sort of change in the town’s status.

Having reviewed the relevant portions of The Municipalities Act, Ashdown said it was his understanding that a petition brought forward by a group of ratepayers would be necessary to begin the process.

Restructuring would also require approval from the Ministry of Government Relations, which Ashdown viewed as unlikely.

Coun. Charla Edwards, who serves on the Water Task Force, said she wasn’t prepared to take the restructuring option off the table entirely.

“I can’t say yes or no,” she said. “Until there’s something else on the board, I’m not saying no to that.”

Edwards said she would still need more information before she could decide one way or the other, adding that the town’s situation seems somewhat hopeless.

“I’ve never had a meeting where we didn’t discuss how we were going to afford something,” she said. “I’m getting to the point where I don’t even get a glimpse of hope anymore.”

Administrator Sarah Wells challenged the notion that the town was headed for bankruptcy, noting that its only significant debt, the debenture on the water plant, would be paid off in two years.

“We’re not broke yet,” she said, adding that restructuring is “not our only option.”

While the town may eventually face fines or other punitive measures from the Water Security Agency, Wells said the agency is unlikely to pursue that route as long as the town continues to work towards restoring potable water.

She painted a grim picture of how restructuring would affect the town’s future. Council would be dissolved and a hamlet board would represent community concerns to the RM, which would collect taxes and control spending.

Wells said the RM would not be obligated to keep the water service running. Others predicted that this could lead to the closure of the school and the health centre.

“We’ll turn into Girvin,” said Wells. “People will move, the businesses will move.”

“Don’t you think Cheryl would just be laughing all the way to the departure lounge?” said Ashdown, referring to Five Hills Health Region CEO Cheryl Craig.

Councillors agreed that if restructuring was not the way to move forward, they would need to keep looking at other options.

Ashdown suggested raising water rates, which he said are substantially lower than in other municipalities. He said the average user in Craik pays $18 per month.

Council again discussed the possibility of seeking another source for municipal water, and whether or not the existing plant could be adapted to treat well water.

Ashdown said he had reached out to the office of Wascana MP Ralph Goodale, the province’s only Liberal MP, whose staff had promised to provide more information on infrastructure funding.

Wells said she had been advised to reach out to municipal consultant Lorri Matthewson. Councillors responded positively, directing her to inquire about the consultant’s services and possibly inviting her to meet with council.

The town is also waiting on a final engineering report from KGS Group, outlining specific options and costs regarding the water plant.

CRAIK — Two weeks after receiving a proposal to restructure the Town of Craik as an organized hamlet, councillors have concluded that the decision isn’t theirs to make.

At the close of a special meeting on Thursday, members of town council did not make a formal resolution, but agreed to issue a statement, as worded by Coun. David Ashdown.

“It is not within the jurisdiction of this council to either approve or reject the proposal to change the status of the town to an organized hamlet,” reads the statement.

“We recognize the importance of finding a financially viable solution to providing potable water, and we are committed to pursuing and examining all possible options.”

A delegation from the Water Task Force, consisting of members Dermot McCaw and Mark Wegner, had visited council during its Feb. 11 meeting.

They brought with them a proposal that the town look into restructuring itself and effectively becoming part of the rural municipality, as a last-ditch effort to obtain the necessary resources to address its looming infrastructure costs.

Councillors had tabled the proposal and agreed to discuss it at a special meeting two weeks later. None of them appeared enthusiastic about the idea of losing town status and effectively ceding control to the RM.

“It doesn’t look very good,” said Mayor Rick Rogers. “We’d be really going backwards if we turned ourselves into a hamlet.”

Ashdown said he appreciated the idea being brought forward and that it had generated plenty of conversation, but challenged the idea that council could be the catalyst for that sort of change in the town’s status.

Having reviewed the relevant portions of The Municipalities Act, Ashdown said it was his understanding that a petition brought forward by a group of ratepayers would be necessary to begin the process.

Restructuring would also require approval from the Ministry of Government Relations, which Ashdown viewed as unlikely.

Coun. Charla Edwards, who serves on the Water Task Force, said she wasn’t prepared to take the restructuring option off the table entirely.

“I can’t say yes or no,” she said. “Until there’s something else on the board, I’m not saying no to that.”

Edwards said she would still need more information before she could decide one way or the other, adding that the town’s situation seems somewhat hopeless.

“I’ve never had a meeting where we didn’t discuss how we were going to afford something,” she said. “I’m getting to the point where I don’t even get a glimpse of hope anymore.”

Administrator Sarah Wells challenged the notion that the town was headed for bankruptcy, noting that its only significant debt, the debenture on the water plant, would be paid off in two years.

“We’re not broke yet,” she said, adding that restructuring is “not our only option.”

While the town may eventually face fines or other punitive measures from the Water Security Agency, Wells said the agency is unlikely to pursue that route as long as the town continues to work towards restoring potable water.

She painted a grim picture of how restructuring would affect the town’s future. Council would be dissolved and a hamlet board would represent community concerns to the RM, which would collect taxes and control spending.

Wells said the RM would not be obligated to keep the water service running. Others predicted that this could lead to the closure of the school and the health centre.

“We’ll turn into Girvin,” said Wells. “People will move, the businesses will move.”

“Don’t you think Cheryl would just be laughing all the way to the departure lounge?” said Ashdown, referring to Five Hills Health Region CEO Cheryl Craig.

Councillors agreed that if restructuring was not the way to move forward, they would need to keep looking at other options.

Ashdown suggested raising water rates, which he said are substantially lower than in other municipalities. He said the average user in Craik pays $18 per month.

Council again discussed the possibility of seeking another source for municipal water, and whether or not the existing plant could be adapted to treat well water.

Ashdown said he had reached out to the office of Wascana MP Ralph Goodale, the province’s only Liberal MP, whose staff had promised to provide more information on infrastructure funding.

Wells said she had been advised to reach out to municipal consultant Lorri Matthewson. Councillors responded positively, directing her to inquire about the consultant’s services and possibly inviting her to meet with council.

The town is also waiting on a final engineering report from KGS Group, outlining specific options and costs regarding the water plant.