Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Issue 11
SERVING THE ENERGY CITY SINCE 1903
www.estevanmercury.ca
Mailing No. 10769 | Publication No. 40069240
Changes made to traffic flow on King Street By David Willberg dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca
After more than a month of complaints coming from motorists, the City of Estevan has made changes to the line painting on King Street. Local residents started raising concerns about King Street shortly after the widened and resurfaced portion of the road reopened between Bannatyne Avenue and Pine Avenue in early June. They were worried about the two quick curves that were added to the 500-block of King Street just west of the intersection with Bannatyne Avenue. A number of people took to social media to complain about being cut off on the road. Others were worried about what would happen during the winter months. The city moved those two curves a block to the west, to the 600-block of King Street. It has also removed the north parking lane for that block of King Street. The change was made on Thursday. The affected area of King Street was closed while the new lines were painted. City engineer Kiflom Weldeab said they have heard comments from many people, so they decided to make the changes to King Street prior to
The City of Estevan has made changes to the traffic flow on King Street. The contentious curves that were located near Bannatyne Avenue have been moved a block to the west. resurfacing the road from Arthur Avenue to Bannatyne Avenue. “We will see how that will function, and then we’ll wait for the public’s
feedback on that,” said Weldeab. “If that’s good, then we will go ahead with this after we resurface the roadway.” Weldeab believes the
biggest source of concern with having the curves so close to Bannatyne Avenue stemmed from their close proximity to the intersection. Now there is more
space between the two turns and the intersection with King Street and Bannatyne Avenue. These types of curves before an intersection
aren’t uncommon, he said, and they can be found in other cities. “There was nothing abnormal or outrageous NEXT ⇢A2
Financial statements show a large surplus in 2016 By David Willberg dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca
The City of Estevan’s audited financial statements for 2016 show a financial surplus, and continued progress with the net debt and the long-term debt, but some concerns linger with unpaid taxes. Gisele Bourgeois and Ashley Rushton from MNP Chartered Accounts presented the statements at Monday night’s meeting. Total revenues for last year were nearly $33.2 million. Taxes and other unconditional revenues, such as provincial revenue sharing and provincial grants in lieu of taxes, were the majority of the revenues at $20.3 million. Revenues were down about $4 million from 2015, but Bourgeois added that was largely due to changes in other revenues, including revenues from Trimount
Developments and the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program. Expenses were at $30.2 million. Wages and benefits were responsible for the largest expense at $12.3 million. General government services ($6.6 million), recreation and cultural services ($6.3 million), transportation services ($5.8 million) and protective services ($5.2 million) were the most expensive departments to operate. Costs were down about $1 million from the previous year, she said. “There was an increase in the general governance services due to the flood that occurred in July of 2016,” said Bourgeois. The city finished with an operating surplus of $2.9 million. When combined with $1 million in provincial/federal capital grants, the city finished with the $4
million surplus. Jeff Ward, who serves as both the city manager and the city treasurer, believes the most important figure, though, is net debt, the figure based on financial assets versus liabilities. The city finished the year with more than $10.4 million in assets last year, while total liabilities were at $36.3 million. The net debt for the community is still at nearly
$25.9 million, but it’s a reduction of about $2.5 million from 2015. “The $2.5 million is a significant amount for the city, so I would continue on that path,” said Bourgeois. Included in the liabilities is the long-term debt. The city reduced it from nearly $33.4 million in 2015 to a shade below $31 million in 2016. Mayor Roy Ludwig
said they won’t be able to make as much progress on the long-term debt in 2017, because they needed to spend $2.5 million for the purchase and renovation of the former Murray GM building, which will become the new Estevan fire hall. “We expect … we will resume that the following year, and in successive years, until we get the debt
paid off,” said Ludwig. Ward said the reduction in net debt has been a focus for him and city council since he arrived in 2013. “Net debt is a great value of that number, because that means you’re increasing cash and your assets while still reducing your liabilities and reducing your long-term debt,” said Ward. UNPAID ⇢A2
Guilty plea entered in workplace accident A guilty plea has been entered in connection with a workplace incident that occurred near Estevan almost two years ago. Prairie Mines & Royalty ULC, operating as Westmoreland Coal Company, pleaded guilty to contravening clause 12(a) of the Occupational Health and Safety regulations, for being an employer at a place of employment that failed in the provision and maintenance of plant, system of work and working environments that ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety and welfare at work of the employer’s workers, resulting in a serious injury to a worker. The company was fined $85,714.29 plus a surcharge
of $34,285.71 in Estevan provincial court on July 10. Charges stem from an incident that occurred on August 10, 2015, near Estevan. A worker suffered serious injuries after tripping on a footrest inside the cabin of a dragline excavator and falling approximately 20 feet. “While everyone is responsible to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace, employers carry the greatest responsibility because of their authority and control over the worksite,” stated a news release from the Government of Saskatchewan. “The Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety works to eliminate workplace injuries and illnesses through education, inspection, and prosecutions.”
Senchuk Ford Sales Ltd.
118 Souris Ave. N., Estevan 306-634-3696 www.senchukford.com