Work contines to save old mill

The JJ Smith Mill Committee is making progress toward restoring the old brick mill and Yorkton Council consented Monday to continue giving them time to work on the project.

Vern Brown with the Committee appeared before the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday to provide an update on their progress with the mill.

"A resolution by City Council dated September 24, 2012 instructed the JJ Smith Mill Committee to report back to Council within one year with a progress report that outlines the current state of their ongoing restoration efforts. In the past year Building Services has been working with the Mill Committee to identify the restoration work that will require an application for a Building Permit and those efforts that may proceed prior to one being issued. This report updates City Council on the project's progress," explained Brant Hryhorczuk with the City's Department of Planning and Engineering.

Brown said work on Phase II of their plan hit a bit of a snag when they had to gather additional information on needed roof repairs.

"Hopefully the roof will be started on this week," he said.

Hryhorczuk said the work is ongoing, and the City is part of the process.

"To date the Mill Committee has obtained the services of Logan Stevens Construction for the purpose of commencing the restoration. Logan Stevens has thus far completed the internal cleaning of the building. The existing windows were removed from the building and new plexi-glass replacements have been ordered. These will be installed to prevent the further infiltration of moisture during the winter. A meeting was held on September 5, 2013. Attendees at the meeting included representatives from

the Mill Committee, Building Services and Logan Stevens Construction. Also present was Mr. Brad Taylor, the representative from JC Kenyon Structural Engineers of Regina. At the meeting Building Services advised that restoration work involving the repair of the roof structure and the stitching of the existing masonry would require a Building Permit application. Submittal requirements for the application would include prescribed fixes to the roof and masonry that are sealed by an Engineer registered in the Province of Saskatchewan," he noted.

The planned work has a budget of $60,000, said Brown.

To date we have been awarded a Built Heritage Grant of $15,000 from Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation. Local fund raising is at $17,000 leaving a balance of $30,000 plus to be raised to complete phase two, he explained.

"When phase two is completed it would be the work of the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society to continue on to phase three which is to develop a plan for future use of the mill property that will make it self-sustaining. The committee recommends that the main emphasis should be the story of grain processing in the Yorkton area, including wheat, oats, flax and canola. Other options may be incorporated with ideas coming from city hall and the general public," detailed a letter presented to Council.

Hryhorczuk said given the work to-date it was the recommendation of City Administration "The JJ Smith Mill Committee be given the opportunity to continue to work towards the restoration of the building. Building Services is to be consulted during each phase of the restoration in order to determine potential Building Permit requirements. Furthermore, the JJ Smith Mill Committee is instructed to report to City Council at a September 2014 council meeting to report on their progress."

Council was unanimous in supporting the recommendation.