Shellbrook www.shellbrookchronicle.com VOLUME 101
Chronicle
The Voice Of The Parkland Since 1912 SHELLBROOK, SASKATCHEWAN
FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2012
PMR #40007604 No. 18
NCER set to wind down operations Following a surprise announcement in the 2012 Provincial Budget that funding would be cut to the province’s Enterprise Regions, the North Central Enterprise Region (NCER) has announced that it will be winding down operations. The government announced March 21 that funding to the Enterprise Region would be cancelled effective March 31. This includes approximately $270,000 in core and $75,000 special project funding to the NCER According to NCER Board Chair, Vivian Nemish, the lack of notice and the Enterprise region’s dependence on provincial funding made it difficult to move forward. “I regret to inform our stakeholders that due to a significant proportion of our operational funding obtained from provincial funding combined with minimal notice of the funding cut, the NCER Board of Directors has directed staff to begin an organized wind down of operation and projects that began earlier in the month,” said Nemish. The NCER Board is also concerned that they and municipal stakeholders were not consulted and only given 10 days’ notice on this decision. “It is the board of directors understanding that the provincial government has determined that regional economic development would best be delivered and funded at the local municipal level. The NCER board of directors are disappointed by this abrupt change in direction by the provincial government,” said Nemish. That process is to be completed over the coming months. Full dissolution, if desired, would require a meeting of the membership planned for late May. In the absence of the NCER, CEO Jonathon Theaker expects there to be a gap in economic development. “We feel that our departure will certainly leave a void in regional, and in some cases, local economic development programing and activity. A void that we are optimistic would be filled in the future by municipal government and other sources,” said Theaker. The North Central Enterprise Region was formed in 2009 when the provincial government moved from the Regional Economic Development Authority system (REDA) to form 13 distinct Enterprise Regions across the province. The NCER offices in Prince Albert are officially closed effective May 1, 2012.
SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT -- The Rhythm Works Dance Studio hosted their annual two day recital over the weekend bringing a year’s worth of award winning dance routines to a local audience. Pictured here are Advanced/Senior Musical Theatre students Kendal Bergen, Erica Archer, Katie Brown, Erin Peake, Taryn Moe, Anna Morley, standing Briana Bourgeault, Jasmin Otet and Sara Shakul from their number Something to Talk About. Story and Pictures on Page 10. Photo courtesy of Enchanted Photos
Mild winter helps RM avoid tax increase Having less snow to push and less gravel to haul allowed the RM of Shellbrook to once again avoid a tax increase to its rate payers despite a year of setbacks. The lack of snowfall through the winter of 2011-12 reduced the cost of operations according to Reeve Bob Ernst, allowing the RM to escape with a $33,000 surplus. “Everything worked out better than we thought. We thought we were in a real wreck last year,” said Ernst. “But we came out where we didn’t have to raise the mill rate and that, I think, is a positive thing.” With minimal snowfall, graders had to complete snow clearing runs far less which made for a reduction in fuel and upkeep cost while sand and salt costs were also drastically reduced. Rather than completing RM wide plowing sweeps, graders were sent out to complete jobs in trouble spots after it snowed. Last year, crews worked hard simply to stay ahead of the moisture damaged roads across the RM and couldn’t complete any new projects, sand sealing or custom work. “We spent a lot of time filling holes
and replacing culverts,” said Ernst. The 2012 year will be a catch up year for the RM with three miles of sand sealing on the schedule. A balanced budget without raising taxes was done in the absence of one big ticket grant the RM was expecting. The RM applied for more than $80,000 in funding through the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program (PDAP) but have only received approximately $5,800. However, a few other grants did come
through like the Watershed grant for $30,000 to help council stay the course. For the third year, the RM has been turned down by the Clearing the Path program for the final two mile stretch of a heavy haul road in the Mayview area. The municipal mill rate will stay at 16 mills. Taxes in the RM have not increased since 2008 which was due to a province wide reassessment. Continued on page 2
The Shellbrook Chronicle will be marking its 100th anniversary with a full day of festivities May 11. The Chronicle office will be open throughout the day for an open house while a burger barbecue will be held at the Shellbrook Seniors Centre starting at 11:30 a.m. Proceeds, along with a matching grant to a maximum of $5,000 from Scotiabank, will go to the Hidden Hills of Shellbrook golf course to go toward their expansion and irrigation project. At 1:30 p.m. a program at the Seniors’ Hall marking the 100th anniversary of
the newspaper will take place with a cake cutting to follow. In addition, the May 11 edition of the Chronicle will be accompanied by a special Centennial Edition featuring 100 front pages to celebrate a century in business. Photos from years gone by will be on display at the Chronicle Office for the open house and cookies and coffee will be available through the day. Those archive photos will be up for grabs to anyone who wishes to take them.
Chronicle to celebrate centennial