Cowan

Farms receives OK to connect operations to city water supply

Jason G. Antonio - Moose Jaw Express

Council discussion

Coun. Doug Blanc thought it was positive that the Cowans’ water use would not affect the city’s supply because he believed their project was important. However, he wanted a further explanation from city administration about how it would know if supply troubles occurred.

The engineering department supplied data about the water network to a contractor who models water and sanitary sewer flows, while it also worked with the fire department to test the output of area hydrants, explained Bevan Harlton, director of engineering.

The department then wrote the Cowans’ request for 5,100 litres per day into the agreement, and if they exceed that amount, both parties will have to re-discuss the business’ needs, he added.

Blanc acknowledged that not every business or industry could be within city limits, while some must remain outside those boundaries. However, he thought Moose Jaw would benefit economically from this project because most people working for the Cowans would live and shop here and contribute taxes.

Background

Cal and Deborah Cowan originally approached city council in April 2022 asking to connect to city water lines to service their land at SE-13-17-27 W2 — adjacent to

Highway 1 on the north side — in the Rural Municipality of Moose Jaw.

Council approved their request to connect to either a private four-inch water line on 16th Avenue Northwest or the city’s eight-inch line near the north service road. The Cowans’ lawyer told council that while connecting the 20-acre parcel to the four-inch line would suffice for now, they preferred the eight-inch line because of volume and pressure requirements.

In June 2022 council unanimously authorized the mayor and city clerk to sign an infrastructure agreement, an extra municipal servicing agreement and an extra municipal servicing connection agreement between the municipality and the Cowans for water service for their development.

Since the couple wanted to subdivide the property into quarters for agricultural, industrial or commercial purposes, they had 15 years to pay $55,000 to the City of Moose Jaw for the developments.

Their first payment was to be $11,000, while the remaining $44,000 — $14,667 per subdivision — would be paid as more subdivisions occur. City hall will forgive the outstanding amount if the remaining money is not fully paid because no further subdivisions occurred.

Tax arrears increased nearly $140K year-over-year in March, data shows

Total tax arrears owed during 2023’s first quarter was nearly $140,000 more than in 2022, while the number of people on repayment plans continued to decline.

City administration presented the first-quarter financial report during the May 23 regular city council meeting. Data about tax arrears and outstanding debt were contained within the document.

Council voted unanimously to receive and file the report.

As of March 31, taxpayers owed $2,998,855 in total arrears, which comprised $1,838,213 in property tax liens

The Council of the City of Moose Jaw intends to consider a bylaw pursuant to The Planning and Development Act, 2007 to amend the City of Moose Jaw’s O cial Community Plan No. 5345.

The proposed amendments include a text amendment to accommodate for a Direct Control District; a map amendment that changes the Future Land Use designation of the area legally known as SW 29-16-26-2 Ext 4, Blk/Par B, Plan CX1021 Ext 0 & Blk/Par A, Plan 78MJ07626 Ext 1 from Community Service/Parks/RVC to Direct Control District 1 (DCD1); and a map amendment to the Development Constraints Map to remove the Environmental Conservation Easement from the subject area to correct a mapping error.

A map of the a ected area and a copy of the proposed Bylaw may be found on the City website at www.moosejaw.ca.

Public feedback on the proposed Bylaw may be directed to Planning and Development Services, 228 Main Street North, Moose Jaw, SK S6H 3J8, or by email at planning@moosejaw.ca. All written submissions must be received by 10:00 am on Monday, June 12, 2023. Questions may be directed to the Department of Planning and Development Services by email or by phone at 306-694-4443.

The proposed Bylaw and any submissions regarding the proposed Bylaw will be considered at the regular meeting of City Council to be held in Council Chambers, City Hall, at 4:00 pm on Monday, June 12, 2023.

DATED at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan this 18th day of May, 2023.

Tracy Wittke - City Clerk

and $1,160,642 in payment plans, the report said. Tax liens represented 61 per cent of total arrears.

As of March 31, 2022, taxpayers owed $2,859,803 in total arrears, which comprised $1,564,639 in tax liens and $1,295,164 in payment plans. Tax liens represented 55 per cent of total arrears.

Therefore, the total outstanding tax arrears increased by $139,052 from 2022 to 2023.

Meanwhile, by March 31, 2021, taxpayers owed $3,788,665 in total arrears. This comprised $1,395,628 in tax liens and $2,393,037 in payment plans. Tax liens represented 37 per cent of total arrears.

During a post-meeting scrum, Mayor Clive Tolley said he believed his job was to help grow the city and make it a positive economic environment where people could acquire a living wage, afford a home, put their kids through school and pay the bills.

“Whenever there’s somebody struggling to meet those basic needs — their underemployed or unemployed — I’m always hoping that we can do better,” he said. “… in every city there’s going to be some people (who) are having a struggle paying their bills, and certainly the cost of groceries, gasoline, all the materials you need for a new house — everything’s just skyrocketed.”

During economic development week from May 15 to 19, the mayor visited the Brandt Industries trailer manufacturing plant and filmed a video about how people who work there earned a decent living wage. Tolley believed that was one way to promote the economy and the high-paying jobs here.

While some residents work multiple jobs and there are some homeless people here, Tolley pointed out it’s less expensive to live in Moose Jaw than in other Canadian cities and most people can make ends meet.

Property taxes receivable

Property tax receivable consists of tax arrears and taxes owing. Tax arrears are overdue taxes, while current taxes are due but have not fallen into arrears. Taxes fall into arrears in the next year following the levy of taxes.

The total outstanding property taxes receivable as of March 31 — and those in arrears — was $2,998,855. No current taxes were outstanding since this was the first quarter.

In comparison, total property taxes receivable that were outstanding by the end of Q1 2022 were $2,859,803, followed by $3,788,665 in 2021, $2,526,855 in 2020 and $2,195,054 in 2018.

Borrowing/debt

As of March 31, there were seven projects that the City of Moose Jaw was still repaying — or guaranteeing — after borrowing money to finance them.

The principal outstanding amount on each project was:

Multiplex/Events Centre long-term loan: $11,886,000 Sanitary sewer long-term loan: $257,000

· Waterworks capital long-term loan: $22,772,000 High-service pumphouse: $7,563,000

· Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation loan term loan (Bank of Montreal): $10,004,020

· Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation loan term loan (TD Bank): $14,881,359.22

· Moose Jaw Municipal Airport Guarantee: $1 million These seven projects total $68,363,379.22; the debt limit is $95 million.

Meanwhile, the City of Moose Jaw is committed to a Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corporation loan term loan of $14,300,000 in 2024. That amount will appear on the books that year.