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Wed., March 18, 2015
www.estevanmercury.ca
Issue 45
SERVING THE ENERGY CITY FOR 112 YEARS
Mailing No. 10769
Council approves $5 million loan By Jordan Baker editor@estevanmercury.ca
While the Estevan city council agreed when they approved the 2015 City
of Estevan budget to borrow $5 million to finance capital projects this year, council exhibited some hesitancy when the time came to sign off on the
loan. During Monday evening’s regular sitting of council, the councillors did unanimously approve the loan, but there was
some question that if the City’s financial position had improved since budget deliberations, whether it was necessary to borrow $5 million.
Coun. Greg Hoffort said the City had received unexpected funds realized from some development agreements, which had been budgeted in a previ-
Skynyrd in the house
Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Mark Matejka let loose with his guitar at Affinity Place in front of more than 1,800 fans. Photo by Alex Coop. See concert coverage on A5.
ous year, and the tender for work at the airport, which had been estimated at about $5 million, was awarded by council Monday night for more than $300,000 less. “I understand we definitely need to make sure we’re adequately funded for capital,” he said. “I understand we need to proceed with the necessary capital improvements and in no way do I want to impede that. But I do want to make sure that $5 million is the amount. I just wonder, in light of some of the new information, is there any desire to pursue slightly less than the $5 million?” He said once council approves the loan, the City would be locked into a 15-year amortization at an annual interest rate of 3.32 per cent. According to the terms of the loan, an interest only payment of $55,333.33 will be paid in August, and the City is scheduled to begin principle payments next year. “Given our united position on council to continually tackle the debt and move things in that direction, I wonder if some of these things could be looked at,” said Hoffort. “Things have changed a little bit in the environment with some of our developments coming through,” said Coun. Lori Carr. “The real question is, do we actually need the $5 million or is $4 million sufficient?” She said with extra money that has come in, the former may not be necessary, and the City could save on interest by ⇢ A2 Loan
Preliminary trial dates to be set for Mullen Nathan Mullen appeared in Estevan provincial court on Monday to determine when his preliminary trial will take place.
Presiding Judge Lane Weigers said he wanted to ensure that a relief judge would be available for the preliminary trial, and adjourned the proceedings
to March 23 to finalize a trial date. A potential preliminary trial date in late July was considered, but further discussion between
the defence and the Crown was required to agree on a date. Mullen’s eyes didn’t veer far from Judge Lane Weigers, who asked him
if he wanted to appear by closed circuit video next week. He answered yes, and was remanded in custody. Mullen is charged
with second-degree-murder following the death of Leslie Erin Dwyre, who was found dead in her Petterson Drive home April 21, 2014.
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