Estevan city council had to appoint the members-at-large for the Estevan Board of Police Commissioners twice on Monday night.
Council thought they had received applications from incumbents Lyle Yanish and Loren Resler, and newcomers Kevin Roche and Jody Haukeness. Yanish was reappointed, but there was a tie between Resler and Haukeness. Haukeness was declared elected after her name was drawn from a hat.
Then, just before the meeting ended, Councillor Greg Hoffort asked for a five-minute recess. It was learned that Lyle Haukeness wanted to join the police board, but sent the message from the phone of his wife, Jody, which led to the confusion.
After another vote, Yanish and Lyle Haukeness were officially on the police board.
Council didn’t receive any letters or detailed applications for the police board this year. Mayor Roy Ludwig said they will require more detailed information in future years.
Council also approved their committee appointments for 2016. Those committees cover the airport, the police board, the Leisure Centre, tourism facilities, arts and culture services and much more.
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Police Chief Paul Ladouceur discussed the December meeting of the Estevan traffic control committee. Among the highlights was a recommendation to reduce the speed limit in the 300 block of 11th Avenue to 20 kilometres per hour. The committee has also discussed a speed reduction on Highway 47 north to the city limits.
But the biggest issue was reducing the speed in the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Fourth Street from 50 to 30 kilometres per hour. The downtown business improvement district is in favour of the change, Ladouceur said, and the EPS supports it, too.
Council sent the request to city clerk Judy Pilloud’s office for review. If they decide to go ahead with the change, first reading of a bylaw would occur at a future meeting. Second and third readings would follow at a later date.
Ladouceur noted there would be a phase-in period, with warnings, if a speed limit reduction occurs.
Next week’s edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
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Council approved a request to have team photos of the Estevan Bruins installed on the north wall of the Affinity Place concourse. The photos, which date back to the late 1950s, had been inside the lobby of the Civic Auditorium.
Dynamic Signs has been approached about the project. It would cost about $15,000, and the Estevan Bruins Alumni Association will cover most of the cost.
The move is expected to further enhance the appearance of Affinity Place, and add to the Bruin history in the building.
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Justin Charron has been hired as the new building inspector for the City of Estevan. He will work in the land development services division.
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A secondary suite for a garage at 614 Second Street was approved.
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Xerox Canada was awarded a tender for $45,780 for the city to lease six new photocopiers for the next four years. There were a couple of bids that were lower, but they did not meet specifications.
