Estevan city council gave first reading to a new pet licensing bylaw during its meeting on April 9. According to the bylaw, all dogs and cats vaccinated for rabies within the past 12 months, and spayed or neutered, will have a licence fee of $35 for the life of the pet. Vaccinations are to be maintained and kept valid for the life of the pet. If an animal has an expired vaccination, the license shall be considered void.
The initial version of the bylaw states that the $35 fee will be waived if the animal is adopted from the Estevan Humane Society. Councillors Shelly Veroba and Trevor Knibbs voiced concern with that clause, as they thought people would pay the $35, which would then be turned over to the humane society.
All dogs or cats spayed or neutered, but not vaccinated, will be a $50 license for the life of the pet, while those not spayed or neutered will be $100 for the life of the pet.
Service dogs will not have a charge, but appropriate documentation must be provided. A kennel license will be $200.
Pound fees will also change. For those spayed or neutered, and registered, the first offence in a calendar year will be $50, and subsequent offences will be $100.
For those spayed or neutered, but not registered, it will be $100 for a first offence in a calendar year and $200 for each subsequent offence. For those not spayed or neutered, regardless of registration, it will be $200 for a first offence, and $300 for each subsequent offence.
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A request from the Estevan Area Literacy Group to excuse its rent for a year was approved. The literacy group’s office is in the Estevan Public Library, and the group pays $250 per month to the city to rent the space.
In a letter to city council, literacy group board chair Marilyn McCutcheon said the agency relies on grants to pay expenses, but due to the economic downturn, many of the grants of the past have further restrictions, so they cannot apply, or can’t apply as frequently.
“Our funds have steadily decreased this past year,” she wrote.
Veroba opposed the request, since financial statements and a list of assets were not included. Council stated they would like to see statements for requests like this in the future.
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Council tabled a request from the local Habitat for Humanity committee for financial support to 2019 budget discussions.
The city supported the first build for Habitat for Humanity in Estevan, which wrapped up late last year. The committee is preparing for its second build next year, and is seeking funding of $10,000, along with the waiver of permitting costs.
The committee hopes to purchase a residential lot in the Matchett Bay development on Sillers Street, adjacent to its first home.
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Council approved economic development co-ordinator Dwight Bramble’s request for the city to join the Smart Cities Challenge. The Smart Cities Challenge is a competition open to all municipalities, local or regional governments and Indigenous communities across Canada.
The challenge will allow communities across the country to address local issues their residents face through new partnerships, using a smart cities approach, which means achieving meaningful outcomes for residents through the use of data and connected technology. It can be adopted by any community.
Finalists will receive support to develop their proposals, and winning communities will be awarded prize money.
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A 2018 John Deere 644 K front-end loader will be leased and purchased from Brandt Tractor Equipment for $320,000 before tax. The unit will be leased for five years, with a $1 outright purchase at the end.
In his report, Norm Mack, the manager of the city’s roads and drainage division, said the front-end loader is used in all four seasons for such tasks as snow removal and water breaks.
The loader would replace a 2004 unit with 13,670 hours. While it has served the city well, Mack said repair and maintenance costs are excessive, with questions of dependability.
