Road bans are scheduled to continue until June 7 in the RM of Estevan.
That was council's decision at its May 23 meeting. Council will make a determination with regards to lifting the bans at that point or continuing with them based on road conditions. The bans are everywhere in the RM, permitting access for some, like farmers, with conditions.
"We still have 19 roads with water on them," said Greg Hoffort, the RM administrator, last week. "Our priority is for people accessing their houses."
There will be some work to be done on many of those roads once the water subsides. Hoffort noted most of that work can be done by the RM's own road crews. There will have to be an assessment of each road and he said there would likely need to be a number of culvert installations.
The local state of emergency also continue across the RM because of the continued flooding of the roadways.
Council is currently making plans for disaster recovery efforts including deliberations on requirements for future river and water course capacity in the municipality.
"Council is spending a lot of time dealing with what can be done better. It's a major event."
He said however, the amount of flooding is rare and when council discusses matters they take into account the infrequent nature of these circumstances. What needs to be done and whether or not they really need to prepare for an event of this magnitude again is being debated.
The requirements on building above the flood plain are not issues that are open to debate at this point.
"That will not change," said Hoffort.
Council approved one new oil-well licence and development. A single parcel, country residential subdivision was also approved, which will accommodate a farmhouse on the 10-acre parcel.
Council made its annual contribution to the Estevan Comprehensive School's Chem-Free Grad, and they approved a community event licence to the Estevan Motor Speedway, allowing them to serve liquor.
