Veteran Warman City Councillor Richard Beck is looking to earn another term at the council table.
“I will be running for a position as city councillor,” said Beck in an e-mail to the Gazette.
In addition to serving on Warman City Council for several terms, Beck is a member of the Municipalities of Saskatchewan (formerly Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association) Board of Directors. He represents the Northwest Region on the organization’s board.
Beck said there are several major issues which he wants to focus on as priorities in the coming term if he is elected.
The future of the police services contract is one of those concerns.
“Under the current formula with the RCMP, once we hit the 15,000 population mark, our policing costs will increase from 70% to 90% of true cost,” said Beck.
“This is a result of a funding decrease from 30% down to 10% for communities over 15,000 population. This will put pressure on our budget to make accommodations for the increase.”
Beck noted that even without the hike in fees resulting from expected population increase, policing costs are expected to rise for communities across the country.
“The RCMP contract costs are expected to rise significantly nation-wide within the next four years,” said Beck. “Together they would create a notable budget impact that requires serious consideration.
“It’s important to weigh all the alternatives and consider all possibilities, including whether it makes sense to go to a municipal policing model, for example.
“I’m not advocating for one model over another; I’m just pointing out that serious discussion and deliberations on this issue will need to happen.”
Beck said one of his goals in the next four years is the completion of two large capital projects. These include the second arena built onto the Legends Centre, and the expansion of the municipal lagoon system and improvements to the city’s sewage discharge system.
Beck said he believes it’s important to increase the city of Warman’s capacity for local services so residents are less reliant upon Saskatoon infrastructure.
“We have seen issues where medical transport and hospital capacity affect our residents,” said Beck.
He said other priorities include: working to ensure integration of the community’s emergency measures organization and procedures with the newly-hired Regional EMO Coordinator; working with the new Warman RCMP Detachment Staff Sergeant to set priorities that are important for the community; continuing to work with other municipal partners within the Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth (P4G) Planning District; and seeing through the new Highway 11 realignment to the Saskatoon Freeway Project.