Organizers of next year’s Buster Days celebration have been given the green light to request a military aircraft fly-past during the parade.
Martensville City Councilors reached a general consensus to approve the request during a regular meeting of council on Tuesday, September 5.
Organizers of the 2024 Buster Days parade are hoping the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will provide aircraft for a fly-by as a special feature.
Martensville Mayor Kent Muench sent a letter to the RCAF 1 Canadian Air Division Headquarters following the September 5 city council meeting. The letter indicated city council “is supportive of a flyby by RCAF Aircraft as low as 500 feet, for the planned Buster Days Parade being held in Martensville for transit, practice, and shows on June 1, 2024.”
The RCAF has provided organizers with information spelling out the requirements for RCAF participation.
The RCAF lines up schedules for its 431 Air Demonstration Squadron (the Snowbirds) and the CF-18 Demonstration (Demo) Team one year in advance. Those schedules are released during the first week of December in the year prior to the applicable season.
A decision by the RCAF on whether to stage a fly-past for the Buster Days celebration will be made later this fall.
GAS METER UPGRADE
The headaches keep on coming for the Martensville Sports Centre.
In the summer of 2022, it was determined that the facility’s fire suppression and ventilation system would need to be replaced in order to comply with current fire and safety regulations. Replacement of the ventilation system in the Sports Centre’s kitchen was included in the city’s plan, and funds were allocated in the 2022 civic budget for the project. However, after the project was tendered, the bids came in over budget. The city adjusted the budget to proceed with the project.
However, a report from the city administration tabled at the September 5 council meeting, stated that the cost of the project is still climbing.
At the September 5 meeting, council voted to approve a transfer of $7,111.50 from the city’s Parks Infrastructure Reserve to purchase a commercial gas meter.
Earlier this summer, during installation of the Sports Centre’s new kitchen exhaust hood and make up air unit, it was noted by the contractor that the current gas meter will not have enough capacity to meet building needs once the project is completed.
Acting Director of Recreation and Community Services Don Crowe told council that a commercial size meter is needed.
Crowe said alternatives were explored to allow continued use of the current gas meter, but no viable options were found. The original quote from Sask Energy for a new meter was $10,614.50 plus GST. However, SaskEnergy later reduced its quoted price by $3,503.00, making the final cost to the city of $7,111.50 plus GST.
“Without replacing the gas meter the kitchen exhaust hood will not be usable during winter months,” said Crowe.
In response to a question from Martensville City Councillor Tyson Chillog, Crowe said the new meter is expected to be installed within the next couple weeks. The installation of the meter is one of the final portions of the project to upgrade the sports centre.