Estevan city council has authorized the pre-purchase of a key piece of equipment for the efficiency upgrades at the waste water treatment plant.
An Atlas Copco ZB110-DIN 300 VSD will be purchased for $357,480, which is below the budgeted amount of $425,000. While it wasn’t the lowest tendered price to purchase, the Atlas unit was recommended because its operating costs were lower than the least expensive unit.
The Atlas blower was the second least expensive to purchase and the cheapest to operate.
Kevin Sutter, who is the manager of the water treatment plant/waste water treatment plant, noted they have $1 million in the budget this year for the waste water treatment plant efficiency upgrades.
The upgrades will extend the life of the plant. The blowers are the most expensive item to replace, and the component that uses the most energy.
“These blowers take atmospheric air and move it using a big pump, essentially, and use it in our processes,” said Sutter. “The current blowers are aging and are very inefficient by today’s standards.”
Stantec was responsible for receiving the bids, evaluating them and making a final decision. Eleven proposals were received from various suppliers. Four of the bids were found to be insufficient and were not given further consideration.
Stantec recommended Atlas Capco after studying the remaining seven bids.
Sutter said he wants to move the project forward, and the longest turnaround time is for the blowers.
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Council gave first reading to its new business licence bylaw, which regulates, among other things, the different rates for licences, and the fines for violations.
Mayor Roy Ludwig noted the city has been working on the bylaw for some time.
The rates will range from $500 for a non-resident commercial business, to $30 for a commercial businesses located within city limits. Most for the fees are in the neighbourhood of $125 to $250.
The license fee for a new business will be $100.
Second and third reading will occur at a future meeting. Council wants to give time for adequate feedback to the bylaw. Their next meeting is June 20, but the bylaw might not be approved at that meeting.
Next week’s edition of the Mercury will have more information on the new bylaw.
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Council amended the list of their appointments to committees and boards in the city. The move was necessary after Lori Carr stepped down from council in April to become Estevan’s new MLA.
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Councillor Dennis Moore, who is a member of the Southeast Transportation Planning Committee, voiced concern with the state of Highway 47 between Stoughton and Grenfell. Moore noted the highway is a vital link between Estevan and the popular tourist area that is the Qu’Appelle Valley, so local residents should be concerned with the state of the road. Moore believes motorists should be travelling 60 kilometres per hour on that highway due to its deteriorating condition.
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Councillor Brian Johnson would like to see improved bins for recycling in Estevan, particularly at sports and recreation facilities. He hopes they can be in place before the Saskatchewan Summer Games in late July.
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Councillor Kevin Smith noted that the Leisure Services board is looking at policies, including the one for smoking around facilities. The current policy is nearly a decade old, and needs to be updated. It would include restrictions on vaping.
