Excelsior Rural Municipality No. 166

The Council meeting addressed several agenda items, including the acknowledgement of an insurance bond and the adoption of the agenda for the current meeting. Key resolutions involved accepting the Statement of Financial Activities for December 2025 and approving accounts for payment. Correspondence was accepted and filed. Under Old Business, the Administrator was directed to inform the Planner of proposed changes to the draft Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw. New Business items included the approval of specific vacation dates for the Foreman, confirmation of administrative service fees paid by the Village of Rush Lake for 2026, approval of the 2026 pasture regulations, setting of 2026 rates for casual labour, custom work, and equipment rental, setting the garbage and recycling fee for the Village of Rush Lake at $1,500 for 2026, and approval of the 2026 Weed Management Plan. The Council also scheduled the next regular meeting for February 13, 2026.

The Council meeting included the adoption of the agenda and acceptance of the financial statements for November 2025, along with the approval of accounts for payment. Correspondence items included acknowledging and filing a SaskEnergy meter replacement notification, granting $10,000 in recreation funding to the Town of Herbert for their Sports Complex and swimming pool, approving SaskTel's plans to remove facilities, and authorizing a Councillor to attend an SPCA meeting. Old business involved adjusting the Administrator's annual salary to $118,000. Committee discussions resulted in authorizing the sale of specific equipment via auction and issuing tenders for a new tractor and a new grader. New business addressed authorizing write-offs for interest on cheques affected by a bank procedure change, authorizing the Administrator to carry over six additional holidays, confirming compliance with Municipal Revenue Sharing requirements, approving a letter of support for a feasibility study for an overpass in Swift Current, allotting population figures and recreation grants for various communities, and authorizing the Administrator to attend the RMAA Convention in May 2026. The meeting concluded with filing the Municipal Hail Insurance Claim information and approving a Weed Inspector agreement and report.

The Council meeting addressed several items, including the adoption of the agenda and the completion of SEEDS training Modules 1 through 4. The Council accepted the Statement of Financial Activities for September 2025 and approved various accounts for payment. Correspondence was accepted and filed. Key decisions involved approving development permit requests from North American Helium, establishing a standardized helium well fee structure of $450 per well plus a $2,000 infrastructure fee per well, and granting a $2,000 donation to the Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation Ratiothon for Healthcare. The Water Security Agency Crossing Grant agreement for culvert crossings was also approved. Furthermore, the Council introduced and gave second reading to Bylaw No. 3-2025 regarding Civic Addressing and authorized the purchase of address magnets for ratepayers. Authorization was also given for new roadwork as presented on project request forms. Compassionate leave for an employee's father-in-law was approved, along with vacation leave for the Administrator.

The regular Council meeting addressed several administrative and operational matters. Key resolutions included adopting the agenda, accepting the Statement of Financial Activities for October 2025, and approving outstanding accounts for payment. Correspondence review involved approving warning signs for children playing, authorizing Councillor Mathies to attend a climate change planning meeting, and approving multiple Notices of Intent for Seismic Operations by Millennium Land/North American Helium Inc., contingent upon payment of infrastructure and license fees. The Council also tentatively scheduled a Road Tour for December 15, 2025, gave third reading to the Civic Addressing Bylaw, and approved a split of administration payments to the Village of Rush Lake. Furthermore, the Council decided to apply to withdraw from the Provincial Road Ban Regulations for 2026 and acknowledged two Road Restriction Orders concerning the Herbert oil route. Personnel decisions included approving the Compassionate Leave Policy, allowing Jeff and Brenda Schwan to fence a portion of Range Road 3122, requesting a priority review of bridge work, setting Council remuneration and mileage rates, approving a $1,500 bonus for Chad Dirkson for grader training, implementing a 3% wage increase for most employees (with specific salary settings for the Administrator and Office Assistant), and setting remuneration for the Chinook Regional Library representative. The Council appointed Darren Steinley as Deputy Reeve, set regular meeting schedules through November 2026, made numerous Committee and Board appointments, appointed the Excelsior Joint Board of Revision, and authorized snow removal operators for 2025/2026. Finally, a $200 Christmas bonus was approved for actively working RM employees.

The Council addressed several key items, including concerns about an error in the Landfill Closure Corrective Action Plan, withdrawal from the Rush Lake Irrigation District, and approval of a SaskEnergy work notification. They discussed landfill fees for the Village of Rush Lake, payment for snow removal services, adoption of the 2025 budget, and the purchase of a water truck. Additionally, the council accepted the resignation of the Pest Control Officer, authorized new roadwork, and decided to tender bridges for conversion to culverts. The mill rate was set for 2025, and a Mill Rate Factors Bylaw was introduced and passed. Approvals were also given for a sign installation, appointment of the Board of Revision, inclusion of a QR code in the newsletter, vacation leave for staff, pasture access, and a service agreement renewal.