The past year brought challenges and accomplishments for the City of Estevan, according to Mayor Roy Ludwig, and he expects the next 12 months will be very busy in the community.
Ludwig delivered his annual new year's address at Monday night's meeting of Estevan city council. There were challenges for the community in the past 12 months, due to the downturn in the local economy, but he is hopeful 2016 will see a turnaround.
A couple of large infrastructure projects were completed in 2015. One was the rehabilitation and resurfacing of the runways at the Estevan Airport – a project that received significant funding from the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program. Also resurfaced were Sixth Street from 13th Avenue to Souris Avenue South, and Souris Avenue South from Sixth Street to Fourth Street.
The city made strides to complete asphalt patches for pavement torn up by water main breaks, and Ludwig said they wants the patches to be completed in a more timely fashion.
As for beautification efforts, there was some work completed on the Kensington Greens park and the new Padwick Park opened. Work started on the boulevards at the north entrance to the city and on the new splash park in the Royal Heights Veterans' Memorial Park, and both should be finished this year.
Economic development and tourism services were shifted from the Estevan Chamber of Commerce to the city. Manpreet Sangha and Rebecca Westling, who had been working for the chamber, are now at city hall.
“Already we are seeing positive results,” said Ludwig.
Negotiations are ongoing with the Estevan Police Association, whose collective bargaining agreements with the city expired on Dec. 31.
Other highlights from last year included upgrades at the city's landfill, city hall, the city yard and the waste water treatment plant; improvements for information-technology services, and the completion of job analysis evaluations for in-scope and out-of-scope employees. A citizen satisfaction survey was also completed.
Highlights for 2016 will include completing the refurbishment of Milne Crescent, and resurfacing Kensington Avenue north of King Street. The food and beverage contract at Affinity Place, the CanElson Drilling Estevan Bruins ice rental agreement and the fire services agreement with neighbouring rural municipalities have to be negotiated.
Ludwig said council is looking forward to the 2016 Western Canada Cup Junior A hockey tournament and the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games, and they hope to see fantastic support for both events.
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Council awarded the chemical tenders for the water treatment plant. Brenntag Canada was awarded three contracts: chlorine for $16,384.03, ammonium sulphate for $9,345 and fluoride for $10,659.60. Aluminum sulphate will go to Border Chemical for $73,710. ClearTech received the sodium hydroxide solution tender for $45,570, and Univar was awarded the potassium permanganate tender for $20,370.
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Council gave three readings to a new procedural bylaw. Many of the changes in the bylaw have been brought about due to a conflict of interest investigation in the Rural Municipality of Sherwood that resulted in the reeve being removed from office.
Many municipalities are moving forward with similar legislation. The province expects all cities to enact the new guidelines by Jan. 19.
