KAMSACK — The closure of Kamsack’s landfill site, the opening of the transfer station that replaces it, and a community Christmas party were among items discussed by town council at its regular meeting of Nov. 24.
Following the meeting, Mayor Beth Dix visited the site of the transfer station, located adjacent to the community’s landfill, where she was photographed standing on one of the concrete pads that will contain large bins ready to accept refuse, and then on the raised area where vehicles stop to unload unwanted materials.
The large hill in the background is the community’s current landfill, which was closed on Nov. 30 and is scheduled to be covered with clay. Beginning Dec. 1, the new transfer station will be operational with OSS (Ottenbreit Sanitation Services) of Yorkton picking up the bins and hauling them to a landfill site in Yorkton.
Rates for depositing refuse at the Kamsack site will be increased significantly, said Barry Hvidston, Kamsack administrator.
During the meeting, council members discussed the community Christmas party scheduled for Dec. 13 from noon to 8 p.m. at the Broda Sportsplex, where a variety of activities have been planned.
During the day, there will be open skating and curling, the opportunity to take Christmas-themed photos, the “Stuff the Cruiser” initiative in which persons may donate items to help put cheer into less fortunate residents’ Christmas, a Christmas trivia competition, a 50/50 raffle, food service, music performed by live entertainers, and an opportunity to skate with Santa Claus.
“Bring your friends and family to celebrate the holidays with Kamsack residents,” says a poster advertising the event.
Not wanting to wait to Dec. 13, persons will be able to donate to the Stuff the Cruiser Christmas hamper program at the Co-op food store on Dec. 3, Dix said, explaining that last year, the RCMP half-ton vehicle was filled with grocery items plus enough money was donated to allow the purchase of turkeys for hampers and for a donation of $300 for Eaglestone Lodge to help pay for a Christmas dinner.
After having approved the hiring of Ambur Hrooshkin of Veregin at its last meeting, Council was told that she would be working on a casual basis starting within the week. Her duties include attention to social media, website design, grant writing and assisting with the planning of events and advertising on an as-needed basis.
Council decided to place a call for proposals for cleaning of the OCC Hall. This will be in place by Dec. 1.
Council was informed by the Parkland Regional Library that the fee for having the Kamsack library would be increased by $3 a person, so that while the community paid $33,450 in 2025, that amount is expected to be raised to about $38,000 for the upcoming year.
Council was told that a camera security system for the downtown core, which will include six cameras plus a server, would cost $54,500.
“It’s a neat system,” Hvidston said. The six cameras would be installed on light standards and they are of a type that, if, for example, a person is photographed immobile for a period, an email would be sent from the server, indicating a possible problem.
At the end of the discussion, it was agreed to have the issue of security cameras brought back to council for the 2026 budget, but council members still questioned what might be done to increase security downtown.
Several residents of Davies Tower have asked why they are not permitted to use the Kamsack Handibus, Dix said, adding that indeed those residents may use the bus if they have a visible disability or produce a note from a doctor saying they require such assistance.
This is because the bus was purchased and partially funded from government grants meant to help the disabled, she said. The only exception to the rule is for a ride to the clinic one time in order to obtain such a doctor’s note.
Members of the Kamsack and District Horticulture Association have agreed to plant the “K” garden at the intersection of Queen Elizabeth Boulevard and Nykolaishen Drive, she said. In return, town staff will water plants outside of the Seniors Centre on First Street.
Discussing council’s planned bylaws governing the use of ATVs, snowmobiles, golf carts, e-scooters and e-bikes, members agreed that when approved, the bylaw will not permit ATVs being driven in town, but because snowmobiles require license plates, they will be allowed to travel from a residence to the nearest trail outside of the community, and golf carts may be used to travel from a house to the golf course and back again.
An updated fees bylaw, which is a comprehensive bylaw that includes all the community’s fees, including some that were governed only by a policy, was adopted. This bylaw will be reviewed annually at council’s last meeting of November, Dix explained.
