The following items were among those discussed at the regular meeting of Meadow Lake city council held Monday (Sept. 28). All members of council were present. 

A recent addition to the monthly reports discussed and approved by city council are board highlights provided by the Northwest School Division. During Monday’s meeting, NWSD board highlights were approved for September 2026, one of which confirmed the resignation of long-time NWSD trustee Barb Seymour. “The board accepted the resignation of Barb Seymour, trustee representing the City of Meadow Lake,” the report reads. “Barb was first elected to the former Meadow Lake School Division board in 2000. She served more than 24 years as a trustee, and the board thanks her for her many years of service and dedication to public education.” A by-election will be held to fill the vacancy, with details to be finalized at the October board meeting. “I want to thank Barb Seymour for her 24 years of services as a school board trustee,” stated councillor Connie Marsh-Yuhasz. “Want me to pass that on to her?” joked mayor Merlin Seymour, who is Barb Seymour’s husband. Marsh-Yuhasz’s sentiments were also shared by councillor Conrad Read. The mayor, meanwhile, said he is pleased to see the NWSD providing the city with regular updates. “There’s lots of information with regard to what’s going on in the schools, not only in Meadow Lake but throughout the entire division,” he said. 

Firefighters have a busy summer

As part of her monthly operational overview, city manager Amanda Flasch reported on the various calls Meadow Lake Fire and Rescue members responded to throughout August. According to Flasch’s report, firefighters responded to five alarms ringing, three multi-vehicle collisions, three structural fires, three first responder calls, one call classified as “other”, one dumpster fire and one needle pickup. To date, the department has responded to 140 calls in 2026 compared to 157 calls by Aug. 31 of last year. “For August, practice crews focused on rope rescue skills,” Flasch’s report reads. “Levitt Safety was here to perform FIT testing to ensure SCBA masks were fitted properly.” On the planning and development side of things, August saw four building permits issued for accessory buildings and foundation repair. The total value was $72,000. Meanwhile, one demolition permit was issued for a cold storage building in a commercial zone and a number of temporary-use permits were issued for shipping containers related to the July 18 flood damage. 

Fire Prevention Week declared

During Monday’s meeting, mayor Merlin Seymour announced he officially signed a proclamation declaring Oct. 4-10 as Fire Prevention Week in the City of Meadow Lake. “The City of Meadow Lake is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in and visiting Meadow Lake; and fire remains a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally, and the presence of lithium-ion batteries in many household devices introduces fire risks,” the proclamation reads. “Most of the rechargeable electronics used in homes daily, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, power tools, e-bikes, e-scooters and toys, are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which if misused, damaged or improperly charged can overheat, start a fire or explode.” The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports an increase in battery-related fires, underscoring, as Seymour noted, the need for public education on the safe use of lithium-ion batteries and devices. “The way lithium-ion battery devices are charged can make a difference in helping prevent home fires and safe charging includes using the cord and charger your device came with or one approved by the manufacturer, charging on a hard and flat surface, watching for warning signs like devices that are very hot or start to swell, unplugging when fully charged, and charging larger devices like e-bikes outside and away from exits,” the proclamation continues. “Meadow Lake’s first responders remain dedicated to reducing the occurrence of fires through prevention, safety education, and community outreach; and the 2026 Fire Prevention Week theme, Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower, serves to remind all residents safe charging can help reduce the risk of fires in homes and communities.”