Infrastructure and affordable housing highlighted discussions at the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) conference in Regina last week. Many concerns were brought forward regarding crumbling infrastructure in municipalities throughout the province, including the need for street repairs and sewer system maintenance.
SUMA is hopeful the province will be able to help, but Premier Brad Wall said the challenge is making it part of a balanced budget.
However, the province has reported some assistance may come from the federal government if funding is available.
Mayor Barry Rudd said deteriorating infrastructure is a bit of a problem in Maple Creek, but it is manageable at this point.
"We have a strategy in our long-term plan, and it's a topic that we have to work on every year," he explained.
Wall said more relief is coming to residents in search of affordable housing. The province's credit unions will provide $10 million to allow people to borrow up to five per cent of the down payment for an entry-level home.
"That's a big bonus that I'm sure will help some people," Rudd said, noting that affordable housing for seniors and low-income families is an issue for which the town continues to seek out a solution.
There were 13 resolutions passed during the convention, one of which addressed flood prevention. It will urge the province to implement a 2012 flood mitigation program for urban governments.
The resolution was originally aimed at assisting in flood prevention work in communities hit with flooding last year, but Rudd requested that it be amended to include municipalities affected by flooding in 2010 as well. The resolution will advise the government to complete flood prevention measures started in 2010 and 2011, as well as assisting in developing future permanent solutions to flood control.
Policing was also discussed. According to Rudd, a switch from a municipal policing agreement to a provincial policing agreement will no longer require towns with under 5,000 residents to pay for the rental of RCMP detachment buildings or stenographer services.
"That's what's been suggested, so it would save money in small towns for sure," Rudd said.
However, towns between 5,000 and 15,000 residents may see policing costs increase by $600,000-700,000.
Changes to the Environmental Act were brought to the table, which includes the operation of landfills and waste water and sewer.
Rudd noted the changes will make landfill operations easier for the town.
"Before, the environment department would come out and have at look at it, and if there was something wrong you'd get a letter and you had to have this cleaned up... in a certain amount of time," he explained. "Now it's more working together. You have to have a licenced person look at it, and if there's anything wrong, we make up the plan to say how we're going to rectify it and they accept it. It sort of takes the pressure off."
On the health care front, Rudd said a cautious approach has been taken by the government.
"There are 13 projects that are on the go now, including ours, so they're going to finish those before they announce any more," he explained.