A regular meeting of the Weyburn City Council was held on September 27; here are the major points of interest:
*Concern over implementation of the City's new automated refuse system caused Council to debate whether the program should be held-off until April, when the snow is gone, rather than its planned start date in January.
With exception of Mayor Debra Button and Councillor Dick Michel, all councillors were in favour of the proposed January start.
"The truck will be ready in December," said Councillor Nancy Styles. "We need to get at it and start using it."
Styles added that the system is meant to save City workers from injury and to allow for one worker to do a job that currently requires two workers, saving money.
Button said that the new system is a big change for residents and believed the best time to implement it would be when the snow was no longer an issue. She said that she preferred an April 1 start date.
"I don't think it matters what day we choose, there's going to be resistance," said Councillor Rob Stephanson. "I don't know why we would have an expensive piece of equipment sitting in the garage for the first three months."
Councillor Dave Craigen also opposed the delay and stated that the Engineering Department has done a good job of getting information about the new system to residents and is offering to come to people's homes to help them with the new bins if need be.
Council voted 4-2 to begin the automated refuse system on January 2, 2011.
*Council tabled a request from a Radville trapper as they felt that more information was required. Ryan Demchynski sent a letter to Council requesting permission to trap muskrat and raccoons at Nickle Lake and beavers at the Weyburn Golf Course and within the city.
Styles said that this letter came "out of the blue" and stated that she would not support this motion as she has not heard of any problems with regards to muskrat and raccoons at Nickle Lake.
"I don't think we need to be trapping at recreation lakes," said Styles.
Director of Engineering Blaine Frank agreed that they have had no problems with the animals at River Park but said that the Golf Course has had a lot of problems with raccoons in the past.
"I'm not opposed to them trapping at Nickle Lake but I don't want anyone trapping in the city," said Button, concerned that resident's pets could be harmed in the traps.
Council agreed to table the request until more information could be obtained.
*A report from the Weyburn Police Commission stated that new legislation banning smoking on school property was a matter for the school board and the Weyburn Police Service would not be enforcing this matter.
The Commission also reported that long-time Weyburn Police Service member Sgt. Marcel Roy retired as of August 9 and Const. Dave Schenk would be promoted to sergeant to take Roy's place. Also, the department is seeking two constables to send to Police College to replace Schenk and an upcoming retirement.
*Button made a proclamation to declare the week of October 3 to 9 as Animal Health Week in Weyburn.
