July 25, 2023

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Reminders

Gravel Pit Measuring Service Award Notice

To comply with the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) and other regional trade agreements, SARM was required to complete an RFP solicitation for a Gravel Pit Measuring and Data Processing Service. Only suppliers that responded to the RFP and received a successful contract award can be promoted as an approved supplier through the SARM Member Purchasing program.

We are pleased to announce that Zach James Media received the successful award as the SARM Member Purchasing Gravel Pit Measuring approved supplier.

The new contract with Zach James Media offers SARM’s members exceptional pricing, accurate measurements, and efficient processing services.

Important information to note:

July 26th is when you can start to access Zach James Media.
The document linked below provides more on the Gravel Pit Measuring Service.
For any questions or for information on how to access the service, email: zachjamesmedia@outlook.com
More information about the Gravel Pit Measuring Service will be posted on the SARM Group Purchasing Programs webpage on July 26th. You can also visit www.zachjamesmedia.com to learn more.
Invoices from Zach James Media will be sent from invoices@sarm.ca and should be paid to SARM.

Learn More

Declaring a Local Emergency - Municipal Role

With excessively high temperatures during the heart of the growing season, it is expected that several RMs will consider disaster status very soon. Both pastures and croplands are being affected by drought.

Although a declaration is not required to receive future funding or assistance, it helps understand the severity of the situation we are in. Municipal declarations bring awareness to an issue in a specific area of the province. A declaration of local emergency can be made by council through a resolution. See link below to the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency.

Declaring a Local Emergency

Before a municipality formally declares a state of agriculture disaster, the following questions should be considered to enable consistent and thorough communications. These include:

Does the local emergency cover the entire area or just a region within the municipality?
Does the local emergency cover all the municipality or only certain commodity products?
Has the municipality contacted other groups and associations to discuss impacts being experienced?

Once a declaration of a local emergency has been made, we ask that you provide information regarding the details of the agriculture disaster to the following:

Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency - Email: spsatraining@gov.sk.ca
Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities - Email: sarm@sarm.ca

Respect in the Workplace Training

Since 2019, SARM has been fortunate to offer the Respect in the Workplace Training at half the cost due to SARM’s partnership with the Respect Group. This program is designed to empower your team with the skills to prevent bullying, abuse, harassment, and discrimination. Our goal is to have our members, both council and staff, certify themselves through the training. The program takes approximately 90 minutes and is done online in one sitting, but we recommend you break it up. You can come and go from the modules. The focus of the training is on culture change but of equal importance is the legal risk and liability avoidance it affords.

The certification costs $20.00 per person. Councils and staff simply register for the training. SARM will invoice the members on a quarterly basis based on your activity. It’s as simple as that.

Linked below are the registration and access instructions for Respect in the Workplace. You will also see the “Respect in the Workplace One pager”. Providing these instructions to your users simplifies the registration process for end-users and reduces possible confusion or challenges.

For helpdesk support, please go to https://support.respectgroupinc.com.

Let’s have a goal of all our members to become Respect Certified.

View One-Pager

Information

2023 SARM Midterm Resolution Deadline

The deadline for submitting resolutions for the upcoming 2023 SARM Midterm Convention is Sunday, September 24, 2023, end of day. Resolutions must be received in the SARM office by this date in order to be addressed at the upcoming convention and included in the convention guide. Please email resolutions to resolutions@sarm.ca.

Linked below for your convenience are the Guide for Writing Resolutions and the Resolution Submission Form.

*Please remember that each resolution submission must include a brief (no more than 500 word) background that answers the questions provided in the below resolution submission form.*

Resolution Guide

Submission Form

Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) Addresses Drought Crisis

SARM is concerned over the severe drought conditions plaguing agricultural regions of the province. As an organization representing the interests of rural communities across Saskatchewan, SARM recognizes the urgent need for immediate action to mitigate the devastating effects of this prolonged dry spell.

Read Full News Release

Early Works Construction Begins for Prince Albert Victoria Hospital Project

As part of the "Design Early Works Phase", the Ministry of SaskBuilds and Procurement (SBP) is moving forward with early construction work and site preparation for the Prince Albert Victoria Hospital Project. This phase includes geotechnical drilling, utility work, and construction of a new parking lot.

Innovative Service Improves Access to Care for Saskatchewan Patients

The Government of Saskatchewan is reminding patients and providers of a free tool to increase accessibility of medical appointments. Up and running since June 2022, the Saskatchewan Virtual Visit Program allows patients to connect with their health care provider from home, or a location of their choice, using audio or video conferencing. Patients may also choose to have family members or support persons with them during the consultation.

Crop Report for the Period of July 11 to July 17, 2023

Another warm week has helped crops maintain the rapid rate of development seen throughout the year. The warm weather has also helped many producers progress through their haying operations and 71 per cent of the province's first cut of hay has been baled or silaged. Provincially, producers are estimating hay yield at 1.08 tons/acre. This is comparable with the five-year average of 1.06 tons/acre and just behind the 10-year average of 1.17 tons/acre.

Targeted Sector Support Building Stronger Community Networks

[On July 20, 2023], Government Relations Minister Don McMorris announced a combined provincial investment of more than $700,000 under the Targeted Sector Support (TSS) Initiative. These funds will support 16 projects across Saskatchewan that focus on partnerships, planning and collaboration.

Saskatchewan Requests AgriRecovery Assessment Due to Drought

Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister David Marit has requested the federal government conduct an AgriRecovery assessment to determine what assistance could be provided to livestock producers faced with prolonged dry conditions.

Resources

Disclaimer: Please note the following RMs have requested the information below to be distributed and will be billed for using this service.

Looking to Hire:

RM of Reford No. 379, Rural Municipal Administrator, AUG 18 - Close

RM of Blaine Lake No. 434, Seasonal Grader Operator, AUG 18 - Close

RM of Coalfields No. 4, Chief Administrative Officer, AUG 14 - Close

RM of Preeceville No. 334, Grader Operator, AUG 11 - Close

RM of Stanley No. 215, Administrator, AUG 10 - Close

RM of Walpole No. 92, Operator, AUG 8 - Close

RM of Walpole No. 92, Seasonal Employee, AUG 8 - Close

RM of Moose Jaw No. 161, District Weed Inspector, AUG 8 - Close

Northern Village of Air Ronge, Chief Administrative Officer, AUG 8 - Close

RM of Dufferin No. 190, Grader Operator Positions, AUG 8 - Close

RM of King George No. 256, Administrator, AUG 7 - Close

RM of Ituna Bon Accord No. 246, Administrator, AUG 4 - Close

RM of Vanscoy No. 345, Office Clerk, JUL 31 - Close

Looking to Buy/Sell:

RM of Wilner No. 253, For Sale: 2007 Peterbilt 378, AUG 19 - Close

RM of Whiska Creek No. 106, For Sale: 2010 140MVHP Motor Grader, AUG 19 - Close

RM of Antler No. 61, For Tender: 1998 Triple S Ridge Mulcher, AUG 4 - Close

If you have questions or would like to post in the SARM Classifieds contact: (306) 757-3577 or sarm@sarm.ca

Please send your advertisement in a Word Document.

SARM Classifieds

Powered Mobile Equipment Defined

Any piece of equipment that moves under its own power and is used it for performing work is PME. Forklifts, skid steers, garden tractors, ag or farm tractors, ride-on floor cleaners, mobile powered lifts and aerial work platforms, utility vehicles like gators, ATVs and UTVs are all considered Powered Mobile Equipment.

Powered Mobile Equipment, or PME, is defined as any self-propelled machine or a combination of machines, including a prime mover, that are designed to manipulate or move materials or provide a work platform for workers.

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations require employers to ensure that only trained and competent operators are permitted to operate powered mobile equipment. The Saskatchewan Safety Council provides affordable effective training at regularly scheduled intervals, as well as on-site operator evaluations.