The current Thompson council used their last-ever meeting Oct. 15 to say goodbye and set the stage for their successors, who will be taking over following the Oct. 24 municipal election.
Council unanimously approved first reading of a zoning bylaw amendment that would allow new transportation companies to formally set up shop in the Hub of the North.
City manager Anthony McInnis said this amendment came forward in the wake of Greyhound’s recent announcement that they would be discontinuing all of their bus services in Western Canada starting Oct. 31.
“A number of the new companies … want to set up in the commercial zones of the city, but our zoning bylaw currently did not allow that,” said McInnis. “So the purpose of this zoning bylaw amendment is to add the new use class definition for ‘bus terminal,’ add it to the majority of the commercial zones, except for our commercial neighbourhood zone,and to formalize it into the industrial light zone.”
McInnis mentioned that this new bylaw amendment will be subject to a second and third reading from the newly elected council, as well as a public hearing Nov. 13.
Council also approved first reading of a bylaw to establish their 2019 water and wastewater rates by a vote of 7−2.
If this bylaw receives second and third reading and is approved without changes by the Public Utilities Board, water rates will rise to $3.42 per cubic metre, a 43 per cent jump from this year, whereas wastewater rates will go up 18 per cent to $1.51 per cubic metre.
The minimum quarterly service charge, which includes 14 cubic metresof water, will decrease from $135.61 right now to $92.76 in 2019.
While these new rates do give consumers the potential to spend less on water, Mayor Dennis Fenske said it serves as a “double-edged sword” for the city.
“If consumers are reducing their use of water that reduces our revenue to operate the utility,” he said. “As per the rules of the utility, we must provide a balanced budget year-over-year or increase the rates the following year to recover any deficits.”
Staying true to their reputation as contrarians to the very end, councillors Ron Matechuk and Duncan Wong voted against this bylaw, with the latter saying that he hopes “the new council look into all these water rates, how the methodology [works], about how they are charging and why it is so expensive.”
Fenske also provided some time at the end of Monday’s meeting to let every member of the 2014-2018 council to say their goodbyes
While most current council members are either looking to regain their seats or to become the mayor in the upcoming election, Coun. Dennis Foley took a couple minutes to reiterate didn't enter the race.
“I’d like to dedicate more of my time to my home life and my family,” he said. “However, I will continue my dedication to the City of Thompson and the taxpayers with regards to being involved in committees, for example the recreation [committee], which has been a passion of mine for many years.”
Wong used his closing statement on Monday to take a parting shot at the mayor.
“From day one, because we had a private meeting together with all the rest of the council, the mayor said, ‘It’s all about leadership.’ Until today, I’m still waiting for it.”
Fenske didn’t respond but opted to thank his fellow councillors,the city’s administration and citizens for the opportunity to serve as mayor, since he won’t be seeking reelection next week.
“I’m extremely proud and humbled and honoured tohave been the mayor of the City of Thompson for the last four years,” he said. “I wish all of the candidates both at the school district level and at the City of Thompson level all the best in the upcoming election.”
Following the election, the inaugural meeting of the new council will be Nov. 7 at City Hall.
