WEYBURN – The Weyburn Humane Society took a big step forward on Monday evening, as the City of Weyburn has agreed to lease a city-owned parcel of land to them for $1 a year for two years, so they can build a new animal shelter.
The land is located at 1810 East Avenue, and is kitty-corner to the Southeast Cornerstone board office.
“Finally after many years of hard work by many people, our dream for a new shelter building is becoming a reality,” said Randy Bakaluk, president of the Weyburn Humane Society.
Speaking after the council meeting, he noted the Humane Society had been looking at this vacant parcel for years as a possible new location for their animal shelter, as their current location is far too small for their needs.
He said they have a few options for building plans in the works, and now they have the location nailed down, they will begin work to finalize which plan to go forward with.
The Humane Society has been in talks with the city over the past 10 years about options for a new shelter, and they had previously submitted an offer on this parcel, but it was never finalized.
The City currently provides grants totaling $41,950 a year to cover the animal control contract held by the Humane Society, and to cover some of the utility costs.
In a report to council, the administration looked at other cities which have arrangements with their local Humane Society or SPCA, and four of the five cities lease the land for $1 a year, and require those societies to cover their utilities.
The lease with the Weyburn Humane Society is for a two-year term, which will allow the city to renegotiate the terms if necessary, or to terminate the lease if conditions have not been met.
The Humane Society will be responsible for the costs of utility connections and they will need to carry their own insurance. They will not have to pay the property taxes during this time as the land is city-owned.
The lease agreement will take effect on June 1, and the requirement is for the shelter to be built within that time frame.
Bakaluk said after the meeting this time frame should enable to get a new building in place, with one plan to provide for 5,000 sq. ft, compared to the 1,100 sq. ft. they currently have.
• In other council business, council approved water and wastewater infrastructure projects for 2023, divided into five parts.
In the end, council approved Margetts Construction of Weyburn to do four of the five projects, and Top Shot Concrete of Saskatoon to do the remaining project.
For Margetts, they will do part 1, which is to replace six fire hydrants in the city, at a cost of $22,970; part 2, to replace seven street valves, at a cost of $24,382; part 4, to do catch basin repairs and replacements in four locations, at a cost of $27,750; and lastly, to replace one storm sewer at a cost of $16,650.
Top Shot Concrete was awarded the project to refurbish 11 manhole locations in the city for $49,938, including an overage of $9,938 to enable all 11 locations to be done this year.
• City council approved a development permit for a new liquor store, to be located in the former home of the Co-op Home Centre at 206 Hill Avenue.
The former home centre space will be converted into a liquor store, with space of 5,300 sq. ft. on the south side of the building.
• The Weyburn Credit Union was granted approval to hold an outdoor concert, barbecue and movie on Friday, June 16, and to block off Coteau Avenue between Second and Third Streets.
The plan is for the event to fun from 4 to 11:30 p.m., with the concert to be done by 9 p.m., and the movie to be done by around 11 p.m.
Among the conditions for the permit to hold the event is to have everything cleaned and ready to go for the next morning, as the Weyburn Car Show will be held on Saturday, June 17, in the downtown area.
