When Mayor Steven Cole reflects on the past year in Indian Head, it reminds him of a finish line. Several infrastructure projects that commenced in 2022, often with support from grant funding, were completed in 2023 and additional projects are expected to conclude in the coming year.
“The year 2022 was busy, Covid was over, and we had lots of projects on the go, but it seemed like 2023 was our finish line for completing most of them,” Mayor Cole told Grasslands News earlier this week.
Last summer, Indian Head residents celebrated the reopening of the town’s outdoor swimming pool. The renovated facility features a pool with gradual beach-style entry at the shallow end, along with a waterslide near the west side of the pool.
“The pool is a huge asset to the town; once it was open, it was bursting at the seams with people,” Mayor Cole observed.
Around the same time, final stages of work were completed to add pavement, benches, and lighting to the Sunbeam Creek Walking Trail. These improvements to the town’s recreational infrastructure were made possible through cost-sharing grants from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP).
Other projects completed in 2023 included establishing an effluent water system in cooperation with the local golf course; the filtration system at the town’s water plant underwent a full rehabilitation as well. Final touches were also added to Shelby Patton Memorial Park and one phase of a roadwork project was finished on northeast area of the town.
In the coming year, more municipal projects will be finished. This includes the landfill closure process that started a few years ago when the town transitioned its waste facility to a transfer station. This involves recapping old landfill pits according to Ministry of Environment regulations. The process costs more than $2 million, but ICIP grant funding was already obtained for the project and stipulates that work must be completed by 2024.
As municipal staff works on various projects, Mayor Cole noted that the town is struggling with some vacancies and aging buildings in its downtown area. Yet he acknowledged there was progress in this area since new businesses have opened or storefronts have been renovated.
Along with recognizing accomplishments relating to municipal facility improvements, Cole is grateful for the contributions of residents who continually help make Indian Head a welcoming community. He noted the Emergency Measures Organization’s valuable work coordinating efforts to support victims of two bus accidents on Highway #1 in 2023. He also expressed appreciation for the staff and volunteers who assisted with the Project Green initiative that carried on work started by the Communities in Bloom committee.
Looking ahead to next fall, Mayor Cole reminded residents that Saskatchewan municipalities will hold elections in November. This will provide a fresh opportunity for residents to lead their community in elected capacities. By that time, Cole will have been on council in his hometown for 19 years. He is looking forward to running for another term, either as mayor or councillor, and continuing to serve the community.
