Creighton’s water supply is safe again after a precautionary boil water advisory last week – but another may soon be on the way.
In a statement released by the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency on Nov. 2, Creighton’s municipal water supply was considered temporarily unsafe after a pipe was replaced during work on the Town’s major water/sewer project.
The advisory was officially lifted on Nov. 10.
Water samples taken from Creighton take additional time to be tested. In previous years, water samples would be sent out for laboratory testing on Saskatchewan Transportation Corporation (STC) buses. Since STC was shuttered for good earlier this year, testing needs to be done in Winnipeg instead, adding more time and expense for the Town.
Town administrator Paula Muench didn’t rule out the chance of a third advisory while work is being finished on the site, which will be completed next year.
“There may be one more during their next shift, but that would be it until they return in the spring,” said Muench.
Grant confirmed
Town council received a financial shot in the arm during the Nov. 8 meeting.
Councillors received confirmation from the provincial Ministry of Government Relations on Creighton’s share of the Northern Municipal Revenue Sharing Grant.
The Town will receive a net payment of around $1.2 million this year, which will be split into five different areas. Transportation will be a major focus, with an allocated $780,000. The rest of the funds will be distributed into administration, water and sewer, community services and landfill services.
The amount of grant money received this year is down five per cent from last year’s payment, due in part to Creighton having a smaller posted population in last year’s federal census.
“Each community gets this money from the province, they have a formula where they allocate so many funds to them. Councils are geared to use that money toward those kinds of things. Every year, it changes. It goes up or down, whatever the province announces. This year, it went down,” said Muench.
Town council applied last spring to appeal the census results, but did not receive any news on the appeal until earlier this month, just after the grant was announced. Even if Creighton’s revised total shows a larger population, the new total cannot be applied to the grant council received.
“We would have gotten more money, but it’s too late now,” said Muench, who added that revised results could be used for next year’s grant.
Revised census information will be sent to the town within the next month.
RCMP report
Creighton RCMP were kept on their toes in October.
Local police responded to 77 calls in the community during the month, according to the force’s monthly report to council.
The calls include four assaults, including a fight outside an area bar involving several people and resulting in multiple injuries.
One assault was considered domestic in nature, while another took place at the Creighton RCMP detachment.
There were 21 traffic-related charges laid over the month, with three impaired driving offenses reported.
One break-and-enter was reported to a property on Creighton Avenue that RCMP described as “condemned.”
“The tenant has since moved on. There have been break-and-enters there before.”
Kristiansen also introduced council members to the detachment’s newest addition, Cst. Carmen Taylor. Taylor recently transferred to Creighton from Nipawin to fill a vacant position in the community.
Miscellaneous
Muench confirmed the Regional Economic Development Group – which includes representatives from council – had hired someone to fill the economic development officer position.
Despite the confirmation, Muench did not name the new hire, saying they will not be named until a later date after contract details are finalized.
More part-time jobs will be open with the Town this summer. Council approved a measure that will allow for hiring more grass cutters for Town-operated facilities during the summer months.
Council also approved the hiring of three new part-time workers at the Creighton Sportex, including two skating coaches and a maintenance worker.
