Estevan city council awarded a tender for site drainage and holding pond construction during their meeting on Monday night.
The tender was awarded to Torent Energy Services for $160,720.81. It was the lowest of the four bids submitted, but Councillor Trevor Knibbs voiced concern because it’s not a local company. The other three companies that submitted bids are local.
“I think we need to keep every bit of business here, and I think we have more than enough qualified people,” said Knibbs.
He and other members of council would like to see a more level playing field for local businesses.
The proposed project is to consist of construction of a holding pond, site drainage system and pumping system, as well as site grading.
The project is to start Oct. 15 and completion is to occur before Jan. 31, 2020.
All pre-construction is to occur by Oct. 15. It is hoped the project will be completed on time, but if more time is required, the schedule will be altered accordingly.
Councillor Shelly Veroba wanted to know if the city would lose funding if the project is delayed due to wet weather. The city believes the funding would still be in place.
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Council received a letter from Gord and Elaine Austin, who are members of the Good Sams Club, which is an organization for people with campers and motorhomes who like to travel and socialize. Each spring, the Saskatchewan group has a rally that attracts up to 200 vehicles.
It was noted by Gord Austin that they have tried previously to have a rally in Estevan, but it didn’t work out, and he cited a lack of communication from the city.
Austin said Good Sams Sask. president Doug Barker made four trips to Estevan and met with Mayor Roy Ludwig, but never received a price for hosting the convention.
Austin would like to get a price for the rally in 2022.
Veroba said there was a discussion a few years ago about hosting the Good Sams at the Estevan Exhibition grounds, but they decided against it, because of concern about 200-plus campers and their generators in the middle of the city.
Hosting the 2019 contention was discussed, but it would have been shortly before the Estevan Fair.
Ludwig suggested Woodlawn Regional Park would be a good location for the convention. Councillor Greg Hoffort said they would need to know if there is sufficient services at the park.
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Council approved the subdivision of two existing parcels into three. The land is currently used by St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and a neighbouring pastor’s manse. The property belonging to the church would be expanded along the west boundary to increase the size of its parking lot, while the land for the manse will be reduced in size.
The third parcel to be created is to the south of the church. The land is currently used as an additional parking lot. At some point it may be developed as a residential lot under the current zoning.
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Two building permits with a total value of $298,174 were issued in August, bringing the total for the year to 27 permits worth a little more than $1.9 million.
Both permits were classified as miscellaneous.
The total number of permits for the first eight months of the year is the same as last year, while the value is up slightly from $1.7 million.
