All eyes were on a television screen during the Town of White City’s Oct. 5 council meeting, as the municipality was honoured for its environmental works.
White City received the Canadian Association of Municipal Administration’s Environmental Award for municipalities under 20,000 people. While the award would typically have been presented at CAMA’s national conference, this year’s presentation had to be made by videoconference due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The award honours municipalities engaged in environmentally sustainable, environmental protection or other projects dedicated to combatting climate change.
CAMA recognized work done by the White Butte Eco-Museum Ecology Heritage Project for this year’s honour. The project brought teachers and students from Greenall School and elsewhere an opportunity to explore features of the land and local wildlife. This met education curriculum goals in biology, ecology, environmental history, and society.
The project was delivered by volunteers from the University of Regina, Nature Saskatchewan and Greenall School’s outdoor education class this past spring, to students in Grades 4 and 6, on local conservation land.
Council also approved three planning-related proposals. A discretionary use for a home-based business at 41 Lott Rd. E., where an automotive detailing business is planned, was approved. It is expected to operate out of a detached garage to be built in the future. Until that point, the business will operate out of an attached garage on the property.
A discretionary use for a home-based business at 63 Meadow Rd. was also approved. This business relates to the development of sculptures and computer-aided art and design for clients. Sculpture work will be done out of the garage on the property, while a home office will also be used. Much of the customer service is expected to take place off-site.
Lastly, a proposed subdivision and consolidation of lots in the Mackenzie Landing subdivision was also approved. When originally planned, a six-metre municipal reserve was created as a noise buffer from other property. This proposal requested that buffer be reduced to one metre. This was the third time the proposal had come to Council as previous attempts, which had time-limits for completion, had expired. White City planner Mauricio Jimenez recommended approval of the project, as construction of a fence or barrier would be a sufficient noise barrier between the residential properties and Gregory Avenue. Council approved the request.
A two hour in-camera session of council considered preliminary reviews of the 2021 budget, the Town Centre Lake engineering design, and municipal owner’s engineering services.
