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July 8, 2025
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| | In this edition of the Rural Dart... | |
- Advocacy
- Strategic Communications
- Next Week's Rural Dart
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Webinar: Ombudsman Saskatchewan’s Role in Reviewing Complaints & Municipal Capacity Building Services
- Risk Management
- Process Claims Faster with the Member Portal & Apps
- Programs
- Leafy Spurge Beetle Collection Days 2025
- Gopher Control Program: Claim Deadline
- Member Purchasing
- Community Planning
- Finance & Administration
- SARM Classifieds
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- Announcements
- Crop Report for the Period June 24 to June 30, 2025
- Task Team Focuses on Community Recovery
- Angling Just Got Reel: Saskatchewan's Free Fishing Weekend is July 12 and 13
- Clearing the Way with Ditch Mowing and Hay Salvage
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- RMAA - Seeking Executive Director
- The Do More Agriculture Foundation: Deep Rooted Screening & Panel On Mental Health in Ag
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SARM’s Advocacy Team, at the direction of the SARM Board of Directors, meets and speaks with members and outside agencies on issues important to RMs, including bringing concerns forth at the provincial and federal levels.
SARM, through its Act of Incorporation, is mandated to work on files of importance to rural municipalities (RM) and agriculture producers.
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| SARM’s Strategic Communications Team leads the initiatives, events, and public-facing components of the work we do for RMs. Strategic Communications is responsible for our conventions, the Rural Dart, Rural Sheaf, Rural Councillor, webinars, and many other events and initiatives. | | |
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Next Week's Rural Dart
Please note, next week's Rural Dart newsletter will be postponed until Tuesday, July 22nd.
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Webinar: Ombudsman Saskatchewan’s Role in Reviewing Complaints & Municipal Capacity Building Services
Join SARM and Ombudsman Saskatchewan for a webinar to learn more about the Ombudsman’s process in managing complaints, and to hear about the new services being offered to municipalities.
At Ombudsman Saskatchewan, we take complaints about provincial government ministries, agencies, Crown corporations, and most health entities. We also take complaints about Saskatchewan cities, towns, villages, resort villages, rural municipalities, northern municipalities, and municipal council members.
We’ve recently expanded our municipal services with the goal of supporting municipalities to build capacity to address the increasing levels of conflict which we see arising and to proactively work to lower the temperature when conflict does arise. Whether your municipality is seeking direction in navigating local issues in a procedurally fair way, or you’d like additional resources for staff and elected officials in de-escalating techniques, we invite you to reach out to our office.
Date: July 23, 2025
Time: 10-11:00 a.m.
| | SARM’s Risk Management Team is comprised of two distinct groups: Benefits & Insurance and Legal. These departments administer and facilitate various SARM and external partner insurance and benefit products, as well as provide legal solicitor services to member rural municipalities. | | |
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Process Claims Faster with the Member Portal & Apps
Submit your claims the fast and easy way!
Ensure your health benefits are processed quickly and conveniently. Skip the paperwork and wait times. The quickest way to get your claim processed is to submit it online at portal.sk.bluecross.ca or using the SK Blue Cross App, available for iOS and Android.
Certain benefits are eligible for Real-Time Adjudication (RTA), which is the immediate processing and payment of an eligible claim. Benefits available for RTA include:
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- Acupuncturist
- Athletic Therapist
- Audiologist
- Chiropractor
- Clinical Psychologist
- Counsellor
- Dietitian
- Foot Care Nurse
- Massage Therapist
- Naturopath
- Occupational Therapist
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- Osteopath
- Physiotherapist
- Podiatrist
- Reflexologist
- Social Worker
- Speech Therapist
- Prescription Drugs
- Vision
- Orthodontic Treatment (where Prior Authorization present)
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Need help with an existing claim?
If you’ve already sent in a claim and are facing longer than anticipated time for reimbursement, and financial assistance is required to bridge the gap, please call our Member Experience Centre at 1.800.667.6853. Let us know you need your claim prioritized and we’ll do everything we can to help. No judgment – just support.
| | SARM’s Programs Team engages with provincial and federal governments, industry leaders, and program partners, as well as other stakeholders, to effectively deliver SARM programs. | | |
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Bio-Control Leaf Spurge Beetle
Collection Days: July 7-10, 2025
The SARM Plant Technical Advisors will be back at Besant Campground from July 7 to 10 for leafy spurge beetle collection. Everyone is welcome to come and collect leafy spurge beetles for release on their property to help control leafy spurge infestations.
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Gopher Control Program
Claim Deadline: July 31, 2025
| | | To learn more about the Gopher Control Program, scan the QR code or visit the SARM website. | | | | SARM's Member Purchasing Team provides group purchasing and procurement advising services to save member municipalities money and time through the buying and procuring processes with the goal of being the first stop for all municipalities’ purchasing and procurement needs. | | |
| SARM’s Community Planning Team is driven by a proactive and collaborative approach with municipalities to support growth, certainty for investment and landowners, and the protection and promotion of what already exists in the community. | | |
| SARM’s Finance and Administration Team provides the budgeting, accounting, and reporting functions for SARM, the Insurance and Benefits Funds, all externally funded programs, and the Tax Loss Compensation Trust Funds administered by SARM. In addition, the team provides administrative assistance performing reception duties that include being the first point of contact for all guests and SARM members both in-person as well as virtually by phone and email. | | |
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SARM Classifieds
The following municipalities/towns/villages have requested the information below to be distributed and will be billed for using this service.
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Looking to Hire:
RM of Blaine Lake No. 434, Maintenance/Equipment Operator, July 12 - Close
RM of Wood Creek No. 281 & Village of Simpson, Administrator, July 16 - Close
RM of Vanscoy No. 345, Community Planner, July 29 - Close
RM of Sarnia No. 221, Administrator, July 31 - Close
RMAA, Executive Director, August 1 - Close
RM of Lakeside No. 338, Grader Operator, Aug 2 - Close
Resort Village of West End, Administrator, Aug 4 - Close
Town of Rosetown, CAO, Aug 7 - Close
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Looking to Buy/Sell:
RM of Grandview No. 349, Gravel Crushing Tender, July 8 - Close
RM of Eyebrow No. 193, Slope Gravel Reclaimer, July 17 - Close
RM of Eyebrow No. 193, 6 Way Angle Dozer, July 17 - Close
RM of Eyebrow No. 193, Ripper, July 17 - Close
RM of Spiritwood No. 496, 1975 Ford Thibault Fire Truck, July 24 - Close
RM of Lacadena No. 228, 2001 JD 7410 Tractor, Aug 1 - Close
RM of Lacadena No. 228, 2001 GMC 1-Ton, Aug 1 - Close
RM of Lacadena No. 228, 2011 F150, Aug 1 - Close
RM of Lacadena No. 228, 2015 Schulte Series 3 Mower with Side Arm, Aug 1 - Close
RM of Lacadena No. 228, 2017 Schulte Series 4 Mower with Side Arm, Aug 1 - Close
RM of Lacadena No. 228, 1980 Schulte Snow Blowers, Aug 1 - Close
RM of Lacadena No. 228, V-Plow, Aug 1 - Close
RM of Langenburg No. 181, 3 Point Hitch/Truck Mounted Sprayer, Aug 4 - Close
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SARM Classifieds Submissions
Ad postings for the SARM Classifieds can be submitted through our online submission forms. For questions, contact 306.757.3577 or sarm@sarm.ca.
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Deep Rooted Screening & Panel On
Mental Health in Ag
The Do More Agriculture Foundation
On Wednesday, July 16, you're invited to a special screening of Deep Rooted, a 33-minute documentary that explores the mental health challenges faced by farmers and ranchers across Canada. This event is hosted by The Do More Agriculture Foundation.
Whether you work in agriculture or simply care about rural mental health, this event offers space to talk, ask and listen to one another. Click here for a copy of the event poster and feel free to share with anyone that may be interested.
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Panelists:
- Kole Norman, Saskatchewan rancher, Flying Dust First Nation
- Lesley Kelly, Saskatchewan farmer and co-founder of The Do More Agriculture Foundation
- Dr. Michelle Pavloff, Director, Centre for Health Research, Innovation & Scholarship; Research Chair, Rural Health – Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Advisor to SaskAgMatters
This panel will be moderated by Dr. Merle Massie, Executive Director, The Do More Agriculture Foundation.
| | | Film Content Advisory: Deep Rooted includes themes of suicide and mental health challenges in agriculture. For 24/7 support in Canada, call 1-866-327-6701 (1-866-FARMS01). | | |
When: July 16 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Broadway Theatre - 715 Broadway Ave, Saskatoon
Admission: Free - donations welcome. Proceeds support the work of The Do More Agriculture Foundation
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The RMAA is Seeking Applicants for Executive Director Position
The Rural Municipal Administrator's Association (RMAA) is currently seeking applicants for the position of "Executive Director".
Reporting to the RMAA Board of Directors, key responsibilities of this part-time position include and are not limited to:
- Arrange and organize Executive meetings including venue and hotel bookings;
- Receiving and processing payables and receivables to/from the RMAA while maintaining accurate financial records in preparation for the annual audit;
- Advise and provide direction in relation to the RMAA Bylaws, Regulations and Policies to the Executive Board; Collect, organize and report Personal Development hours for Administrators;
- Execute the decisions of the Executive Board as required;
- Timely and accurate communication to the Executive, members and other key stakeholders;
- Accurately create and produce specific documents for distribution to RMAA members and Executive team including RMAA Review, Meeting Minutes, Convention agendas, and the SARM Rural Councillor publication;
- Correspond with the general public and third-party officials as required including SARM, SMHI, and Provincial and Federal Government agencies;
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Store, maintain and protect current and historical records of the RMAA, supplies, and all paper and electronic documents.
- Liaise with key stakeholders including hotels, sponsors, guest speakers and members to ensure the annual convention details including the coordination of the Trade Show are executed to the highest standard;
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Provide verbal reports to the Executive team and at the annual Convention.
Preference may be given to applicants with a Rural 'Superior A" designation, or past experience with the RMAA Board.
This part-time position provides an initial compensation as set out by policy, and adjusted after 12 months.
Please submit your resume in confidence by August 1, 2025.
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