June 2024
Note: Some email platforms distort the Rural Sheaf (RS) formatting. The RS looks best when viewed as a webpage through your internet browser.
View as Webpage
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RM Directory on SARM's Website
Don't forget to update the RM Directory on the SARM website. This will ensure that SARM and the public are kept up to date with current RM council details. This is also where we pull the information for SARM's convention name badges.
To access your RM Directory profile on the SARM website, please log in here and click on the “Manage your RM Directory Listing” link that is located under the Administrator’s Access for Updates heading on the Members Only homepage.
If you require any assistance, please contact coordinator@sarm.ca.
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Request for Submissions
Potential Amendments to Municipal Acts
in 2025-26
The Ministry of Government Relations is proposing to open the three municipal Acts for amendments in the 2025-26 legislative session. The legislation concerning municipal governance—The Cities Act, The Municipalities Act, and The Northern Municipalities Act, 2010—is periodically reviewed and amended to respond to changing policy needs and stakeholder concerns. These three Acts will be reviewed concurrently for the greatest possible alignment and consistency; however, any suggested amendments are encouraged, whether they are common to all three or specific to one particular Act.
Please note that this will not be the only opportunity to provide suggestions for amendments. The ministry will be asking for additional feedback on potential amendments this fall and winter. Please see the outline below for approximate timing on consultations throughout the process.
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Saskatchewan Election Survey
CBC Saskatchewan is looking to solicit a wide range of perspectives and thoughts in the lead-up to the next provincial election on the issues that matter most to Saskatchewan voters. CBC is asking people across this province, both urban and rural, to let them know by visiting this link www.cbc.ca/saskelection2024 and filling out the form included (the form may only show up when the link is visited on a laptop or desktop computer).
The feedback will help inform coverage of the provincial election, and may also be used to identify people who would write personal viewpoints on the election or serve on citizen panels on our radio and TV programs.
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Gopher Control Program
Claim Deadline: July 31, 2024
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SARM Interactive Online Calendar - July 2024
View the SARM Interactive Online Calendar to access the full year on the SARM website. This version is updated regularly as new dates of interest and deadlines are identified and should be viewed as the most current.
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Deadlines
July 1:
- For submission of previous year's financial statement and auditor's report to the Ministry of Government Relations
July 10:
- To remit and return monthly EPT funds
- To remit taxes to SMHI, C&D and regional parks
July 15:
- For CRA source deductions
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Meetings
- Committee Meeting: July 4
- Committee Meeting: July 11
- Board Meeting: July 15-17
Monthly Reminder(s)
- MEPP employee and employer contributions through PLANet, as well as submitting payment is due within 15 days from the end of the pay period
- Review waterworks rate policy and capital investment strategy; update if necessary
Special Days
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Water Worries: Water Management and Drought Mitigation Planning in the Canadian Prairies
Join Prairie Sky Strategy for an engaging and informative webinar focused on water management and drought mitigation planning by provincial governments in the Canadian prairies. This session will address critical questions and provide a comprehensive overview of current strategies and future directions in the face of increasing water scarcity.
Key Questions Addressed:
- What is the current status of water resources across the prairies and how does that compare to historical norms? How does the current situation compare to droughts in the past? What is being done in the prairies to prepare for drought and mitigate the effects of it if it gets worse? What kind of approaches can be employed (or employed more) to address the water shortage? How are the provinces cooperating or working together to address this issue? And much more.
Don't miss this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the drought challenges facing the Canadian Prairies and the innovative mitigation strategies and plans being pursued. Register now to engage with experts, and share your perspectives on development of resilient water management practices.
Date: June 27, 2024
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Panelists Include:
- Bill Huber, Vice-President - Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM)
- Brad Saluk, Vice-President - Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM)
- Hon. Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas - Government of Alberta
- Hon. Whitney Issik, Senior Strategy Advisor, - Prairie Sky Strategy
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Sharing the Journey
Stories of Mental Illness
The Schizophrenia Society of Saskatchewan's Sharing the Journey initiative is part of the Partnership Program. It provides presentations to communities across Saskatchewan that feature two speakers who live with schizophrenia or other mental illness who share their experiences of living with a mental illness and how they are active in their recovery, as well as a mental health advocate to cover more facts and figures. At the end of each presentation, the discussion will open to questions from the audience and a brief survey will be conducted.
If you're interested in booking a presentation in your community, please contact:
David Field
Rural Partnership Program Coordinator
P: 306-584-2369
E: david@schizophrenia.sk.ca.
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Bio-Control Leafy Spurge Beetle
Collection Days: July 2-5, 2024
The SARM Plant Technical Advisors will be back at Besant Campground from July 2 to 5 for leafy spurge beetle collection. Everyone is welcome to come and collect leafy spurge beetles for release on their property to help control leafy spurge infestations.
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Co-op Housing Development Program
Access forgivable loans along with low-interest repayable loans to build rental co-operative housing. This program supports a new generation of non-profit co-operative housing.
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Virtual Information Session
Join the CMHC for a 1-hour webinar on June 26 and 27 to learn more about the Co-op Housing Development Program, available tools and resources, and get answers to frequently asked questions.
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Rural Integrated Roads for Growth (RIRG) Program
The Rural Integrated Roads for Growth (RIRG) Program is a Ministry of Highways funded program, administered by SARM, and governed by a Program Management Board, which is made up of voting representatives of both organizations.
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Rural Municipal Administrator Internship Program (MAIP)
Step into the role of internship supervision and shape the future one-on-one! The Rural Municipal Administrator Internship Program (MAIP) offers a unique opportunity for Class A or Superior A Rural Administrators to provide individualized training and foster professional competency in future rural municipal administrators by helping them attain the necessary competencies and required hours for their “Rural Class C certification” throughout the 52-week internship period.
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Why Choose to be a MAIP Internship Supervisor?
- Legacy Building: By investing in aspiring rural municipal administrators, you leave a lasting legacy of healthy local government in rural communities.
- Tailored Development: Customize the internship experience to address specific skills and goals, ensuring maximum impact, offering practical guidance, feedback, and real-world insights that go beyond academic learning.
- Leadership and Strategic Skill Building: Hone your leadership skills by actively participating in the growth and development of a future Administrator.
- Financial Benefit: Upon approval, SARM will provide the selected host rural municipalities with a $17,000 grant intended to cost share the intern’s salary. The supervising administrator of record will also receive a $3,000 honorarium upon successfully completing the internship supervision.
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Agricultural Water Management Funding
- Now Available
The Water Security Agency (WSA) is renewing the Agricultural Water Management Fund to support agricultural producers and local governments to develop water management projects. Since 2022, it helped 21 projects across the province to support the continued growth of a sustainable and resilient agricultural sector in Saskatchewan.
Applicants can receive up to $95,000 per project based on a cost-sharing approach. It can be used for qualified persons support, technical and engineering costs, and mitigation and rehabilitation works for agricultural water management projects.
This program is part of WSA's ongoing commitment to supporting the agricultural community in developing and maintaining responsible agricultural water management projects in Saskatchewan.
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Hay Salvage & Ditch Mowing: Key Dates & Information | |
Hay Salvage
Hay is once again available to producers for salvage at no cost in provincial highway ditches during spring and summer months.
Before and including July 8, landowners or lessees nearest/adjacent to the ditch have the first option to cut or bale material, but after that day anyone can cut and bale without permission from the adjacent landowner or lessee, as long as no salvage operations have already begun. It is recommended that participants contact their local Ministry Office to provide contact information and limits on where they are salvaging hay to avoid potential disputes.
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Ditch Mowing
The Ministry is working on its annual early mowing program along high traffic highways, which begins June 7 and will continue until July 15. Contractors cut a four-metre wide swath along shoulders adjacent to Highways 1, 7, 11, 16 and 39, along with portions of Highways 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10. During this time, mowing may be completed near some highway intersections and interchanges, railway crossings and tourism facilities.
Regular ditch mowing (full-width) will occur along all four-lane highways between July 15 and the fall months. Heavily travelled two-lane highways will receive a 12-metre cut. Secondary highways will receive an eight-metre cut. A four-metre-wide strip will be mowed adjacent to the other highways with additional mowing as required to ensure visibility and weed control. Progress is weather dependent.
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Key Dates
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June 7 to July 15: Mowing includes a four-metre shoulder cut adjacent to the road. Highways 1, 7, 11, 16 and 39, along with portions of Highways 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10. Some highway intersections may receive a full ditch cut to ensure good sightlines.
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July 8: Prior to and including this date, a landowner or lessee nearest to a highway ditch has the first option to cut or bale hay. After this date, anyone may cut and bale hay or grass in a highway ditch without getting the permission of the adjacent landowner.
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July 15 to Oct. 15: Contractors begin mowing the width of ditches along all four-lane highways. Heavily travelled two-lane highways will receive a 12-metre cut. Secondary highways will receive an eight-metre cut. All other highways get a four-metre cut adjacent to the highway shoulder.
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Aug. 8: All hay bales must be removed from ditches or they may be removed and disposed of at the Ministry’s discretion.
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The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health is keeping everyone updated on the province’s Health Human Resources Action Plan with this infographic highlighting key areas of success. | | |
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The following RMs have requested the information below to be distributed and will be billed for using this service. |
Looking to Hire:
RM of Montrose No. 315, Seasonal Maintenance Operator, Jul 4 - Close
RM of Hart Butte No. 11 & RM of Happy Valley No. 10, Joint Administrator, Jul 11 - Close
RM of Marquis No. 191, Grader Operator, Jul 20 - Close
RM of Morris No. 312, Administrator, Jul 20 - Close
RM of Good Lake No. 274, Administrator, Jul 26 - Close
Looking to Buy/Sell:
RM of Willner No. 253, For Sale: 2017 Highline Mower, Jun 27 - Close
RM of Progress No. 351, For Tender: 2014 CAT 140M AWD Motor Grader, Jul 10 - Close
RM of Tecumseh No. 65, For Tender: 1999 Dodge Ram 25000 Quad Cab SLT Laramie, Jul 20 - Close
RM of Grandview No. 349, For Tender: Gravel Crushing, Jul 21 - Close
RM of Birch Hills No. 460, For Tender: 2014 John Deere Grader, Jul 24 - Close
RM of Birch Hills No. 460, For Tender: 2015 Capital 1 - 3 Function Snow Wing, Jul 24 - Close
RM of Birch Hills No. 460, For Tender: 2016 Capital I Gravel Reclaimer/Sloper, Jul 24 - Close
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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.
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Gravel Pit Measuring and Data Processing Program
Drones are becoming increasingly important when measuring gravel and are much more cost effective than manual measurements. The SARM Gravel Pit Measuring and Data Processing Program can give you volume measurements that you can trust along with the annotation report delivered within 48 hours.
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Register Now for the Community and Land Use
Planning Module!
The Community and Land Use Planning module will cover a variety of topics including: the roles and responsibilities of council, administration, and the public; the creation, adoption, and amendment process for Official Community Plans and Zoning Bylaws; the subdivision process; servicing agreements; the development permit process; the development appeal board process; enforcing bylaws; the building permit process as well as regional planning.
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Registration
This module is now offered online through Southeast College. To register, please visit MLDP.ca or call 1-866-999-7372.
Fees
$75.00 + GST
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SARM Webinars
SARM offers webinars for members. Not only can you participate in these live, but you can also have them as a resource to view again when it’s convenient. Past topics have included:
- Tax Enforcement
- Municipal Investment Solutions
- Drainage Products and Solutions
- Saskatchewan's Property Assessment System
- Combating Crime in Saskatchewan
- Pest Control Product Compliance
- Municipal Leaders' Roles and Responsibilities
- And more
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SARM Vice President Bill Huber attended the grand opening of the RM of Marriott & RM of Pleasant Valley office in Rosetown yesterday. Congratulations to RMs 317 & 288! We hope this new building serves you and your municipalities well for many years to come. | |
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That concludes the Division 4 meeting! Thank you to the presenters & RMs who participated in the 2024 SARM June Division Meetings this week. These meetings provided opportunities for many RMs to connect with the SARM Board & engage in discussions with experts on priority topics. | |
SARM's June Division Meetings
- June 5, 2024
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Last week, the SARM office hosted its annual Rural MAIP Leadership Workshop! Thank you to everyone who attended, and a big thank you to our facilitator Tricia Flaman! For more information about the Rural MAIP, please visit the SARM website. | |
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The SARM Executive met with Saskatchewan Minister Everett Hindley & Minster Tim McLeod on many important topics related to health resources in SK including the VHH, urgent care facilities, hospital vacancies & shortages, mental health initiatives in rural SK, & more. | | | | |