Estevan city council approved the purchase of a new street sweeper during their meeting on Monday night.
An Elgin Eagle M2 sweeper will be purchased from Fer-Marc Equipment Ltd., with a 60-month lease option for $6,015.11 per month, which works out to $72,181 per year, plus taxes.
This year’s budget allocated $80,000 for a new street sweeper.
Estevan currently has two older sweepers, a 1999 Elgin Pelican that has been used for around 9,500 hours, and a 2004 Elgin Road Wizard with over 6,000 hours. A 2014 Elgin Eagle has already accumulated 1,740 hours.
The new sweeper likely won’t arrive in Estevan until late in the street cleaning season.
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Mayor Roy Ludwig opened the meeting by proclaiming April 27 to May 8 as Western Canada Cup Days in Estevan. The event opens on April 27 with a banquet featuring Calgary Flames president Brian Burke and former NHL forward Jeff Odgers, who hails from Spy Hill. The tournament itself will run from April 30 to May 8.
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The City of Estevan has restored its support for the Estevan and District Music Festival.
Council decided last year that it wouldn’t fund bursaries and scholarships for the music festival, due to their debt issues. But the music festival requested funding for next year, citing the city’s improved financial picture.
Council will provide $1,000 for the festival in 2017.
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Council will send a letter of support to the Saskatchewan Arts Board to back the Souris Valley Theatre’s request for a $10,000 grant. The theatre would direct the money towards the production of The Volstead Blues, which will run from July 25 to 29 and August 2 to 6. It’s a depiction of Estevan during Prohibition.
The theatre would like to host a Rum Runners Weekend in Estevan from August 5 to 7 in conjunction with Volstead’s appearance.
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The city will provide $2,000 towards the Estevan Soldiers’ Tree committee. Committee members appeared before council at the April 11 meeting to provide an update on the project and seek support.
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A donor wall for the supporters of the 2016 Western Canada Cup will be located near the Estevan Bruins’ office in Affinity Place.
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The Estevan Curling Club will be allowed to use Affinity Place rent-free if they are awarded the 2017-18 provincial men’s curling championship. They also won’t be charged for Plexiglas removal or for using four dressing rooms in the building,
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Council approved the pre-purchase of a blower for the waste water treatment plant for $375,000. The existing blower technology has exceeded its life expectancy. Council allocated $1 million in this year’s budget for efficiency upgrades at the plant, which includes the blower, flow stabilization equipment and control and instrumentation upgrades.
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The monthly fire report for March shows the Estevan Fire Rescue Service received 21 alarm calls, participated in two bi-weekly training sessions and one activity. They were called to 13 false alarms, four fire alarms, two gas leak or carbon monoxide alarms, one motor vehicle accident and one unauthorized burn.
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Seventeen pieces of surplus used equipment from public works will be taken to the annual consignment auction at the Estevan Motor Speedway in June.
