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Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Issue 25
SERVING THE ENERGY CITY SINCE 1903
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Annexation continues to receive opposition By David Willberg dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca
It appears the opposition to the City of Estevan’s desire to annex land from the Rural Municipality (RM) of Estevan hasn’t died down. A public hearing on annexation was held at Monday night’s council meeting. Not only did council receive five letters from RM residents opposed to the proposal, but nearly a dozen RM ratepayers attended the meeting. James Trobert from the Trobert Law Firm, who resides in the RM, has been engaged by the RM on this matter, and explained why the RM has filed a formal notice of objection to the annexation. “I think it’s clear the RM is doing this in the best interest of the RM, and by extension, its citizens,” said Trobert. The city wants to annex four quarter sections to the north for future residential use, and two-and-a-half quarters to the east for future commercial and industrial needs. Trobert cited several
reasons for the RM’s objection. The first is the RM’s contention that the city has sufficient land inventory within its boundary to not only meet present but future needs. He said the city already possesses 727 acres of undeveloped land within its boundaries. “There are other potential expansion sites, including several hundred acres of land available to the west and northwest of the city, particularly the Highway 39 corridor,” said Trobert. Trobert also noted there are some old buildings in the city that are nearing the end of their life expectancy, and could provide the city with opportunities for renewal or growth. The next reason is the city’s projections of growth rate of 2.6 per cent per year over the next 30 years, which could mean the city’s population would eventually double. “Many of us, including myself, who have been long-term residents of the city, have all heard those
predictions before … that if we continue with this rate of growth, that Estevan’s going to see tremendous growth,” said Trobert. He said the population growth from 1986 to 2016, according to Statistics Canada, was 13 per cent, or less than one half per cent a year. He’s also concerned with the impact of the federal government’s plan to phase out conventional coal-fired generation by 2030. The RM’s third reason to object is it believes the city’s desire for “orderly” development along the bypass corridor can be accomplished without annexation, and it can be done in less obtrusive fashion. Trobert said nobody faults the city for having concerns about developments along the bypass, because nobody wants to have a hog barn near the city’s residential area. “The city itself doesn’t necessarily have to be the one to develop to ensure that happens,” said Trobert. Whether the city or the RM develops the land, all
RM of Estevan ratepayers and other people turned out for a public hearing to discuss annexation during Monday night’s meeting of Estevan city council. are faced with the same development requirements and provincial legislation. Finally, Trobert said the RM is also concerned about the city’s ability to service not only the land, but to maintain Township Road 25. The financial compensation payable by annexing land has traditionally been about 15 times the property tax assessment for those lands. Trobert said the RM would stand to gain $450,000 to $500,000 from annexation. The focus is not just on
money, but on the township road, which is a key agricultural route for farmers in the area. The road cuts through the area that would be annexed. “We want to maintain that roadway for the benefit of our residents and our agricultural community,” said Trobert. Mayor Roy Ludwig said there wasn’t anything unexpected in Trobert’s presentation, but his points were valid and well-researched. It will give council a lot to think
about and discuss. “We appreciate the concerns of the citizenery out in the RM, and of course it behooves us to give this due consideration, and moving forward have lots of discussion, not only with us within council, but hopefully we can continue to gather the input and feedback from the RM council as well moving forward,” said Ludwig. As for the letter writers, they outlined their own reasons for objecting to the A2 » COUNCIL
Future of highways discussed at meeting By David Willberg dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca
The future of highways in southeast Saskatchewan was a key focal point of a meeting in North Dakota last week. The U.S. Highway 52/Provincial Highway 39 Summit was held Thursday at the Kenmare High School Auditorium. It featured several key individuals with knowledge of highways on both sides of the board, including Estevan City Councillor Dennis Moore, who is the chair of the South East Transportation Planning Committee. Moore said it was a good gathering that attracted between 60 and 70 people. “The focus of the meeting was to discuss issues and ideas regarding the use, improvement and development of U.S. Highway 52 and Saskatchewan provincial Highway 39 as a transportation and trade corridor, with
the objective of enhancing trade in and between both regions,” said Moore. The need to co-operate is a key issue, Moore said. The Americans at the summit were pleased to see the Saskatchewan government has taken the first step by approving passing lanes for Highways 39 and 6 between Estevan and Regina. The passing lanes should be in place by 2020, Moore said, and should improve traffic flows and cargo movements. Passing lanes are also viewed as a viable option for Highway 52 southeast of Portal, N.D., which Moore said is also a busy highway. Moore admits he has warmed to the idea of passing lanes for Highways 39 and 6. The provincial government had announced in 2013 that it planned to twin the 200-kilometre stretch from Estevan to Regina, in addition to twinning Highway 39 east of Estevan to
Coun. Dennis Moore an area southeast of the junction with Highway 18. But earlier this year, the government revealed it was now looking at passing lanes from Estevan to Regina. Approximately 15 sets of passing lanes would be constructed in each direction, and would be two to two-and-a-half kilometres in length. “I was really excited about twinning, because I figured we had it in the bag,” said Moore. “If the economy hadn’t gone, I’m sure that would have worked. We
would have got it done.” There are some on the committee who have driven heavy trucks for a living, and Moore said they found passing lanes do work. “Once you get to know the layout, you just lay back until you get to a passing lane, and then away you go,” said Moore. The South East Transportation Planning Committee has now decided to support passing lanes, and wants to see them happen. “The only thing that concerns us is if we’re going to go to the trouble and the money of putting passing lanes in, can we turn that around and make that same area work for twinning,” said Moore. “They claim they might be able to make some of it work, but in the long run, probably not.” Once the passing lanes are in, Moore expects they will remain for a long time. If the provincial government would have pro-
ceeded with its plans to twin the highways, then Moore said it would have put added pressure on the Americans to twin Highway 52 southeast of Portal. Moore noted there are a couple a short stretches of passing lanes around Kenmare and Bowbells on Highway 52, and a couple of prolonged turning lanes. But he’s never seen a sign for passing lanes on that highway. Moore was given 15 minutes at the summit to discuss the South East Transportation Planning Committee and how it works with rural municipalities. He noted the RMs are partnering with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure to resurface highways that would not be repaired otherwise. “I believe there have been 12 of these partnerships put together already, and we’re working on a couple in our area,” said Moore.
There were also questions from the Americans about the committee itself, which has been operating for more than 20 years. Moore noted the committee suffered a 25 per cent cut in funding from the government, which means they have fewer meetings and workshops. Also at the meeting were David Marit, the provincial minister of Highways and Infrastructure, and North Dakota Department of Transport director Tomas Sorel. Multiple panel discussions were offered as well. “They had the right players there, because it sounded like they promote whatever is asked for, and try their best to make things happen,” said Moore. Next year’s summit will be held in Estevan. A date has yet to be established, but Moore hopes half the passing lanes can be complete by this time next year.
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