The first order of business during the Town Council Meeting in Vermilion was the Mayor signing a proclamation declaring Senior’s Week in Vermilion to be June 3 – 9. It was also said that a $5 barbeque will be held at the Vermilion Senior’s Centre gazebo on June 5. Presenters noted that the event is to encourage people to have a good time and feel special and that the nearby Museum will also be open this year. According to the speaker, Senior’s Week is an opportunity to go the extra mile to open a door for a senior or show your appreciation; noting that our seniors are a lot of fun and wonderful cooks. Vermilion Senior’s Center Executive Assistant, Dianne Dunn, was honoured by being presented with a certificate from MLA Dr. Richard Starke and a plaque from Mayor Caroline McAuley on behalf of Council and the Town of Vermilion for her efforts in helping to save a man’s life. On March 28, residents from Elk Point, Kitscoty, Wainwright, Irma, Kinsella, Viking, Mundare, Myrnam, Mannville, and Vermilion took part in the Vermilion Senior’s Centre’s Floor Curling Wind-Up. According to Dianne Dunn, while preparing dinner for 75 people, someone hollered her name, and by the time she got to the gentleman from Irma, he was turning purple. She could not get the automated external defibrillator to work so while Glen Wood performed mouth to mouth, she kept watching the clock and performing chest compressions for 12 minutes. “All I could think of during those 12 minutes was my daughter who passed from a heart attack on December 29. People said to let him go, but I kept going until the ambulance got there,” said Dunn. The gentleman was taken by air ambulance to Edmonton in severe critical condition where he had four stents put in before returning home. “I ached for three days after but was so glad I could be there to help him; he will be alive to see his 82nd birthday and 60th wedding anniversary in July. I have called and visited him and saw photographs from his surgery. The things they can do now are miraculous,” said Dunn. During her presentation, Mayor Caroline McAuley said, “Everyone needs to know CPR because you never know when you might need it.” In response Dunn concluded, “Thank you, It means a lot to me. They’re just like family to me now, often getting together for coffee.” In other council news, a motion was carried for a $4,000 sponsorship to Feast on the Farm. “I think it is a great event showcasing Vermilion and fundraising for student scholarships,” said Mayor McAuley. In Transportation and Utilities, a motion was carried for Council to award the 2018 Water Main Improvement Program Contract to Rusway Construction Ltd. for a total of $220,300.50 plus GST and a 10 per cent contingency. Another motion was carried for Council to accept the quote from Glover International Trucks to supply one 2019 International 7500 Tandem Axle Truck with a Monroe Plow for a total of $165,722.64 plus fees and taxes and an additional $5,000 plus taxes for modifications. Another motion was carried for Council to accept the quote from Industrial Machine to supply one RPM 220 – Tier 3 loader-mounted snow blower for $134,155 plus fees and taxes. The motion for the Street Improvement Program was tabled due to a discrepancy with possibly being over budget. In Planning and Development, a motion was carried to have the Council for the Town of Vermilion authorize the reduction of lot prices in the Yellowhead Industrial Park from $160,000 per acre to $99,000 per acre effective immediately and extending until December 31, 2018. Sales of the lots will be conditional upon the proposal of the commencement of construction of an appropriate building within six months and the title of the land will remain in the Town’s name until the lot is paid in full and the foundation is completed. Councillor McCullough said, “I think the perception is that our focus has been on the downtown. There are a lot of full-time jobs that could come out of this. I hope this will do what Economic Development hopes it will do.” Town of Vermilion CAO George Rogers said, “We need to get creative, encouraging activity with the intention of purchasers building something of value because the expected revenue for this area was eaten up a long time ago.”