By Greg Nikkel
Weyburn will be building more accessible pedestrian ramps around the city, and will be working with SaskPower on addressing the need for new street lights, council heard at their meeting on Aug. 28.
The city made provision in their 2017 budget for the construction of concrete pedestrian accessible ramps at certain intersections in the city, part of an ongoing program to upgrade existing sidewalk infrastructure.
The plans are to have nine ramps in four intersections built, with three of the intersections on Coteau Avenue in the vicinity of Haig School and the Don Mitchell Tot Lot. The fourth location is on Third Street and Highway 39.
Council had budgeted $32,000 for this work, and received three bids on the work, with the lowest bid coming in at $35,828 from Huseini Concrete of Moose Jaw. While this contract is over the budgeted amount, the job can be accommodated within the overall budget for sidewalks, curbs and driveways set by Public Works and Parks.
City manager Roy Hardy was asked about the growing number of city street lights needing replacement in the city.
“I know this has been an ongoing problem,” he said, noting it’s a problem the city will have to work with SaskPower to address, as the wiring in some locations needs to be replaced.
“They are coming to the limit of what they’re able to do, so staff will be meeting with SaskPower to facilitate the renewal of this infrastructure,” said Hardy, adding the city will be looking to see if the most energy efficient fixtures will be used for the street lights, and for pedestrian lights.
Two development areas in the city which had been discussed in administration committee were brought forward to council for a decision.
One was in regard to the Douglas Heights subdivision on South Hill, where council passed an extension of the agreement to allow the developer more time to complete the work that was started in the subdivision.
Council has stipulated that no work can commence on the site until an updated letter of credit has been submitted to city hall.
“This is a continuance of an existing project to see it to fulfillment,” said Hardy.
The other property, owned by Primrose Holdings, is located in the 1900 block of First Avenue North, and had been sold to them by the City. The company wanted to resell the property, but council wanted the stipulation that the property cannot be sold for more than they paid the city for it.
Hardy explained the City has a policy in place not to allow the reselling of property originally owned by the City, to prevent speculators from making a profit by flipping a city lot.
“It’s good to see there are others who are picking this up,” said Mayor Marcel Roy, adding that council doesn’t want to see a project held up that has the potential to move forward.
Council approved a tender to have new fencing installed at the Weyburn Airport, with some funding provided through the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure’s Community Airport Partnership (CAP) program.
The initial estimate for the fencing, which will be installed on either side of the security gate at the airport’s main entrance, was $15,000. As the initial location was not agreed to by the property owner, the fence location was changed to the south edge of the apron between the airport and a business, Stewart Steel, and the ministry approved this changed on Aug. 14.
Four companies submitted bids for the fencing, and the lowest price came from Strictly Fences of Moose Jaw, which is proposing to supply and install 690 feet of 72-inch light commercial chain link fence, and 340 feet of light commercial chain line fence with plastic weave inserts, for a total cost of $18,170 plus taxes.
The three other quotations were submitted by Guest Construction of Weyburn, J&M Industries of Brandon, Man., and Rite-Way Fencing of Regina.
The bid was approved by council, with the supply and installation of the fence to be paid upfront by the city with 50 per cent reimbursement from the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, and 25 per cent reimbursement will come from Stewart Steel, the adjacent property owner.
