The Prairie Harvest Christian Life Centre received an exemption from Yorkton's Noise Bylaw from City Council Monday, but it was not a unanimous decision.
The Centre's request was made because of a plan to hold an alcohol-free/chemical free graduation party on the evening of Tuesday, June 29.
They have advised that this party is being held at the request of graduating teens, from both the Yorkton Regional High School and Sacred Heart High School, to provide them the opportunity to have a chemical free graduation party. They are expecting between 50 - 100 guests, detailed information circulated to Council Monday.
"The exemption under the Noise Bylaw was being requested as they plan on holding an outside dance from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. on the west corner of the property. The event will be supervised by staff and volunteers as well as parents of graduating students. A sound system will be used and the dance will be DJ'd.," explained the report.
Upon receipt of the request Administration sent out letters to 86 residents around the Centre."We have received five phone calls with respect to this mail out. Three were against permitting the exemption and two were in favour. This represents only 5.8 per cent of the residents responding, with 3.5 per cent against and 2.3 per cent in favour. It would appear from the low response that most residents do not have strong feelings one way or another ," stated the report.Mayor James Wilson said he felt granting the exemption would show City support for chemical-free, safe grads.
However, Councillor Chris Wyatt worried granting the exemption would not be well-received given the noise level of dance music, doubting many in the area will be pleased when it starts up at 2 a.m..
"This is not about supporting a chem-free grad," he said. " It's about the noise."
In the end the exemption was approved with Councillors Wyatt and Richard Okrainec opposed.
