Estevan city council gave its blessing for the Tap House and the Tower Café to proceed with a patio for Fourth Street.
Peter Sereggela, who is the president of Sereggela Holdings, which owns the two restaurants, appeared before city council during the July 16 meeting with the request. The patio would have nine two-person tables set up in front of the restaurants during the spring and summer months.
“We’re hoping to create a little bit more atmosphere downtown,” said Sereggela.
It would encroach about four feet of the sidewalk, which would leave six feet for pedestrians. They don’t want to impede visibility of the nearby mid-block crossing.
The deck would also be taken down and stored for the winter to allow for snow removal.
Approval is still needed from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority and Sereggela said the patio might not be set up until next year.
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Souris-Moose Mountain MP Robert Kitchen provided an update to council on current issues in the riding. He said he has been travelling across the constituency, and discussing issues with urban and rural municipal governments.
Kitchen discussed the impact of the carbon tax on the province, the future of coal-fired power generation, and the future of carbon capture and storage.
Kitchen noted he hopes to have an open house late in the summer to discuss coal-fired generation in the area.
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A special event permit was granted for the inaugural Mr. Mike’s Slo-pitch Classic. John Murray from Mr. Mike’s Steakhouse Casual in Estevan said the event, scheduled for Aug. 17-19, is the first of many that will benefit the Estevan Girls Softball Association.
In addition to the tournament, there will be a children’s area, a barbecue, refreshments and more. Live entertainment will take place the first two nights, with music from Chris Henderson on Aug. 18.
The tournament will be wrapped by 6 p.m. on Aug. 19.
Neighbouring residents have been notified of the tournament, he said.
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Council approved the development of the Living Skies South Fitness and Wellness Centre in the 1000-block of Sixth Street, which will be located next to the Green for Life Environmental recycling depot.
The plan is for a cross-fit studio with classes generally outside of normal business hours.
Council members expressed some concerns with the lack of available parking spaces, and with the gravel parking lot at the site, but still gave the proposal their blessing.
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The ice allocation policy for Estevan’s arenas was also approved.
In a report to council, program manager Erin Wilson wrote that the changes were needed following the decommissioning of the Civic Auditorium.
Priority of ice distribution will be the City of Estevan, the Power Dodge Estevan Bruins, minor ice sports user groups, schools, adult user groups, casual non-profit clubs and organizations, and casual renters.
Arenas will be available for rent from 7 p.m. to midnight each day, except for statutory holidays, when the arenas will be open from noon to 5 p.m.
Minor user groups will pay $110 per hour for ice rental in 2018-19, and $115.50 per hour in 2019-20. Adult user groups and casual renters will be charged $190 per hour in 2018-19 and $199.50 per hour in 2019-20.
It will cost $160 per hour to rent ice from noon to 5 p.m. on statutory holidays, and $210 per hour on statutory holidays outside of those hours.
The city also asks for 48 hours notice to cancel an ice booking.
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Late penalties for taxes will start to be applied on Sept. 1 at one per cent, rather than 1/2 per cent on Aug. 1. The city decided to waive the August penalty because of the late arrival of the assessment roll from the Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency. The city has received a number of calls regarding the due date for taxes, which is later than normal.
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The city awarded seven permits worth $172,600 in June, bringing the total for the year to 20 permits worth $1.2 million. The number of permits is down from the 31 awarded in the first six months of last year, and the permit value is down from the $2.78 million of a year ago.
