The Weyburn Riding and Driving Club will be making some improvements to the city barns area they are leasing from the city just west of the Souris Valley grounds.
The Weyburn Riding and Driving Club will be making some improvements to the city barns area they are leasing from the city just west of the Souris Valley grounds.
Prior to going ahead and making the improvements, however, they wanted to know about the status of their lease, as they didn't want to be spending the money to make improvements if they are kicked out of the facility a short time later.
The club's lease on the city barns and corrals runs out in June of 2012, and asked if they could extend the lease to 2017.
In a letter to council, club treasurer Bev Johnston pointed out the club made $4,500 worth of improvements at their own expense, including the installation of new metal roofing and painting the barn during 2008-2010.
"It is our wish to repair the fence and pasture, along with installing a permanent round pen to help our members ride with more confidence and work with their horses," said Johnston's letter.
She noted the club's membership is currently full, and the barns house between 20 and 29 horses.
Council decided they would approve the request, but will rely on the clause in the agreement that the lease can be terminated with 30 days notice.
City manager Bob Smith pointed out that the council refused to extend the lease for HELP International, which leases the land next door to the city barns, because they wanted a long-term lease; their current lease will run out in 2014.
Council approved a tender for land leveling services as crews prepare for future phases of new residential lots for the city.
The tender for rough grading for the storm channel and storm channel detention site is for lots being built in the Assiniboia Park subdivision on the city's northeast side.
The tender was awarded to SF Ventures of Regina in the amount of $738,905.
These will be for phases 2, 3, and 4, while the city is half-way done building 77 new residential lots in phase 1 in the Assiniboia Park subdivision, with the goal to be done later this year.
Engineer Rene Richard explained that the contractor is expected to be back in the city after the August long weekend to resume work on the 77 new lots.
Once crews are back at work, they will know if any extra work is required; then Community Services manager Doug Mulhall can put an accurate price on them and a lot lottery can be held, possibly as early as August. The lots themselves likely won't be completely finished until about October, assuming good weather for construction, said Richard.
The lots still require such work as concrete curbs and sidewalks, power, street lights and pavement, he added.
Meantime, Richard noted the land levelling to take place in phases 2, 3 and 4 is the very first step taken in lot creation, and how many lots will be built will depend entirely on demand, and on involvement of developers and what needs they have for single-family or multiple-family dwellings.
