December 22, 2024 7.
Pipeline company to develop worker camp here in 2014
Posted on December 11, 2013 by Maple Creek Pipeline construction which will bring a camp of 550 workers to Maple Creek in 2014 was discussed by council at the regular meeting of council on Dec. 10. “OJ Pipelines is developing a man camp and a warehouse camp within town limits and that is to house approximately 500 to 550 men,” said town administrator Michele Schmidt.The company from Nisku, Alta. will be constructing a pipeline that will be passing close to Maple Creek and heading south to the U.S. border. “It’s a huge economical spin-off for the town of Maple Creek,” she said. The company will build a warehouse located on the north side of the railway tracks along Highway 21 in the industrial park close to pasture land. A worker camp will also be built in the industrial area at Second Avenue North and Jasper Street. The company has plans to start ground disturbance in the new year as leases for the warehouse property expire on Dec. 31. The meeting further revealed the town will receive funding from PDAP in regards to the clean up of the landfill and the compacting of furniture after the 2010 flood. The town will be receiving a payment of $83,907.53. The issue will be brought forward for discussion again at a future council meeting. Schmidt’s administrator’s report detailed she and Main Street Program co-ordinator Royce Pettyjohn attended a municipal showcase on development and building on Nov. 21 in Swift Current. “This was an opportunity for us to showcase the Town of Maple Creek,” said Schmidt. “Royce did an excellent presentation and showed some of the wonderful aspects we have to offer with regards to our community.” Participants from Gull Lake and Shaunavon were also at the event, which served to showcase similar communities to developers. The forum was also a chance for municipal staff to seek out developers who may be interested in working on the Cypress Lodge building, which will be vacant when services are moved into the integrated healthcare facility. “There are some avenues there that both Royce and I are trying to stay on top of with regards to trying to entice a developer,” said Schmidt. Several members of council attended a First Nations-Municipal Community Infrastructure Partnership Program workshop on Dec. 5. Unfortunately representatives from the RM of Maple Creek were unable to attend, but the meeting was attended by members of town council, Nekaneet First Nation and Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge. “It was an excellent workshop. It was the first step at building relationships with the Nekaneet and the Healing Lodge” said Schmidt. “Everybody was sitting down in one room and talking about service agreements and how we can work together better.” “I think everybody who was there was very impressed,” she said. “It was very worthwhile, we showed them we really want to work with them,” said Councillor Justin McFarlane. A report will be forwarded to participants from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and follow ups completed to see how the participants are progressing with meeting goals. Councilor Tina Cresswell noted she attended the Host Saskatchewan annual conference in Regina Dec. 9 -10. “I felt that this was probably one of the most worthwhile conferences that I’ve been to in a long, long time,” she said. “It was exciting. There was a ton of stuff that could help this community.” She spoke of the address given by Pat Fiacco, CEO of Tourism Saskatchewan and several of the sessions she attended, like a presentation given by Gregg Sauter of the Roughriders Football Club and Darren Mitchell of Phoenix Group. “They talked about creating a brand and the kinds of decisions, activities and considerations they have for creating a brand and why they made the decisions they did and how it’s paying off,” said Cresswell. “We know what a good brand the Riders have. We know that green is the colour.” The mayor brought to the council table the idea for the town to support Mission Zero, an initiative that is aimed at reducing the number of workplace injuries and hazards. The idea was brought forward during a SUMA meeting where mayor Rudd is a regional director on the board. “I’d like to see us sign up for Mission Zero, it’s free,” said Mayor Barry Rudd. He spoke of the alarming statistics for workplace injuries in Saskatchewan compared to the remainder of the country. “We need to have a safety program,” said Rudd. “The death rate in Saskatchewan is 1.4 times the national average, which is a shocker.” In other news, Councillor Ellaine Hawrylak reported on a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce. A bylaw was passed by the chamber to change the name of the group to the Maple Creek and Community Chamber. The move is meant to help attract more rural members to the Chamber of Commerce. Committee reports session of the meeting revealed an arena board fundraiser hockey game with the Consul Rockets to benefit the Southwest Integrated Heathcare Facility to be held on Jan. 3. The game will be at 7:30 p.m. There will be a live and silent auction beforehand with a $2 admission to the game going towards supporting the integrated healthcare facility. Also that evening will be a rink mortgage burning celebration, which will include a barbecue beef on a bun and official ceremony of mortgage burning with a representative of council present. The event will take place from 6-7 p.m. Council proposed donating a family pool pass to the silent auction. Everybody is quite happy with how things are going at the rink, reported Councillor Michelle McKenzie. She noted the arena board’s general bank account held $58, 234.76. The Cypress Cyclones hockey club have set dates for their smoker social nights on Dec. 20, Jan. 18 and Feb.1. They will also be hosting their annual fun tournament on Dec. 27 at 11 a.m. followed by a dance at the Elks Hall. There are 17 players in broomball this year , and the figure skating club Christmas carnival will be held on Dec. 17.
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