The City of Weyburn’s Wey-Clean Week campaign went well, so much so that Coun. Dick Michel is hopeful for a return of a historic campaign with the City of Estevan.
At the May 25 meeting, city engineer Jennifer Wilkinson gave a “huge shout-out” to city residents and organizations for their participation in helping to clean up the city during the week, which ran from May 10-14.
“They did an absolutely amazing job, and it was wonderful to see organizations out, and all the people and all the kids,” she said. “I give a lot of credit to the residents, because they really stepped up, and they really embraced the week.”
Mayor Marcel Roy agreed, saying the city looks really good now, particularly with the rain helping everything to green up.
Coun. Ryan Janke, who had a challenge going with Coun. Laura Morrissette for the cleanup week, conceded that her team did a better job than his did.
“My team got out there and did our very best, but she and her team outperformed us,” he said.
“I can’t take all of the credit for that,” responded Coun. Morrissette. “My girls were big proponents of that. They’re little environmental bugs and they love to get out there and make sure their surroundings are clean for all their friends.”
She expressed the hope that residents will continue this effort throughout the spring and summer to keep the city clean.
Coun. Michel said he heard someone from Estevan had been snooping around the city to see how the cleanup effort was going, “and you know what that means, people. The citizens of Weyburn have spoken.”
He is hopeful that this will mean a return of the historic Golden Garbage Can competition with Estevan, and added he went down to that city to have a look around there also.
“We have work to do, but we can do it. I’m very proud of this community,” said Coun. Michel.
• In other council business, engineer Wilkinson said the recent rains received in the city and area is bringing the levels up at Nickle Lake, and it will also improve the quality of the water for the city’s use.
“This rainfall is very good for us,” she said, adding she will have more definitive numbers for the next council meeting about how much water this has brought to the level of the lake.
• Mayor Roy said the City of Weyburn will light up in commemoration of Huntington’s Disease on Friday, May 28, when City Hall will turn the lights to blue and purple to help raise awareness of this disease.
He noted that city resident Lisa Pollock and her daughter Sophie have been promoting the disease, with Sophie making and selling key chains to raise funds for Huntington’s Disease. Her grandmother passed away due to this disease, so she is doing what she can to raise funds and awareness, and would be happy to sell anyone who wants one of these key chains.
• Three tenders were approved by council at their May 25 meeting. The first was for two quarter-ton pickup trucks.
Two bids were made for this item, and council approved the bid by Barber Motors for two Chevrolet Colorados, at a total bid price of $75,480 for the two trucks. The trucks are on order, and should be delivered to the city by late August or early September.
The second tender was to lease a landfill compactor, or to rebuild the compactor currently in use at the city’s landfill.
The best deal for the City’s use is a five-year lease of a 2021 Caterpillor 816F from Finning Canada, with the annual price of $93,680.
The cost to recondition the compactor currently in use were bids of $403,163 from Finning, and $386,298 from Emsco. Council agreed with the recommendation that the five-year lease, which includes a warranty, was the best way to go for the city.
The third tender was to repave trails in the city parks, with the initial proposal to pave 1,030 metres of the Red Coat Trail, and a 100m section in River Park, with 50mm of asphalt, or about 6,400 square metres.
The City had allotted $75,000 in the budget to cover this, but the bids were too high, so the City asked the companies to resubmit bids on a smaller portion of trails, to cover 3,460 sq. metres.
Of the three bids received, the lowest bid came from ASL Paving in the amount of $80,320, and council approved this bid, with assurance that the Parks Department would be able to cover the extra cost over the budgeted amount.
