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Water will be a focus of future upgrades By Jordan Baker editor@estevanmercury.ca
The City of Estevan’s 2015 budget is a plan for the coming fiscal year, but the document also marks the start of a five-year strategy. Nowhere is that five-year plan more ambitious than the water and sewer utility program.
In fact, with planned capital expenditures of $1.84 million for the water and sewer departments in 2015, this year will mark the most lax construction year Estevan taxpayers can expect until 2020. While City expenditures haven’t been completely adopted into 2016 and beyond, the capital plan
for this division of municipal services is preparing for more than $27 million in capital spending from 2016 to 2019, and council did approve the utility budget to 2019. The water and sewer utility capital plan identifies what infrastructure must to upgraded or newly established in each of the
coming years. Expenses this year include $600,000 to equip the newly constructed biosolids building, along with $240,000 in roof repairs to the water treatment plant and another $1 million in other water treatment plant upgrades. Over the next four years, the City is expecting
to commit another $2 million, $3 million, $5 million and $1 million in further plant upgrades from 2016 to 2019, respectively. That accounts for less than half of the total planned capital expenses for water concerns in that time frame. As Coun. Kevin Smith said during budget deliberations at a special council
meeting on Jan. 26, the dollars being committed to this capital program are big. Kevin Sutter, water treatment plant manager, outlined how much of the infrastructure at the plant is aging beyond its best before date. City Manager Amber Smale’s report to council noted that some of ⇢ A2 Outdated
Light turnout for open forum By Norm Park
normpark@estevanmercury.ca
Estevan residents are either not interested in the public school system in the city, or, they are so confident in its administration and deployment, they are just not concerned. That could be one message received based on the fact that only six people attended the public consultation session in the Estevan Comprehensive School on Monday night that was designed to gather information regarding the thoughts and concerns the public might have regarding the future of the South East Cornerstone Public School Division. ⇢ A2 Consultants
The Panda and Unicorn Performing at the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum on Friday night, Moose Jaw’s PandaCorn, featuring Megan Nash, Brodie Mohninger and Ryan Schnell, played through crowd-pleasing originals and a handful of covers. See story on A10. Photo by Jordan Baker
Icy roads and sidewalks made it a challenge For a period of three days last week, walking and driving in the Energy City, along with several other communities in southern Saskatchewan, became a real challenge due to the icy, freeze, thaw, freeze weather exchanges witnessed over that trio of days. For the most part, the drivers and pedestrians handled the ice buildup properly with extra caution and a concern for their
fellow walkers and drivers since public works efforts to improve traction while reducing dangerous conditions proved almost fruitless as one sleet-ridden weather system followed another in rapid fashion. The emergency ward at St. Joseph’s Hospital was able to handle the additional influx of victims who arrived with sundry injuries such as sprained wrists and ankles, possible concussions or, on
occasion, a broken limb, thanks to the ice. “We did notice the increase relating to ice-related falls with a few broken bones,” said Greg Hoffort, St. Joseph’s executive director. “While it did place an additional burden on the ER and diagnostic staff, they were able to handle the additional patient load.” The Estevan Police Service reported only a couple of accidents that
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required their attention in terms of investigation and activity. Const. Craig Bird said, “Monday through Thursday we had just a couple that we had to handle, but we only have to be involved if the accident is significant enough to require a vehicle or vehicles to be towed from the scene, or if it involves an out-of-province vehicle.” Otherwise, those involved in the more minor “fender
bender” type of incidents are simply required to exchange information and report to their insurance agencies such as SGI. The police officer said that most drivers had a “heightened awareness due to the obviously icy conditions,” so drove accordingly, paying close attention to the possibility of sliding or skidding through intersections, even at lowered speeds.
Kelly Brinkworth, spokeswoman for SGI, said on Friday, Jan. 30, that while she was pretty certain there would probably be an increase in insurance claims due to the slippery situations that prevailed for up to three days, “it’s too early to compile the numbers because those claims will just be starting to come in about now. We’ll probably have a better idea in the latter part of next week.”
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2015-01-26 5:52 PM