Estevan city council held its first regular meeting Monday night since the Nov. 9 civic election, and they didn’t waste any time in discussing some significant topics.
The meeting opened with an appearance by Don Kindopp, who is the chairperson of the new Estevan Regional Nursing Home committee, and former city councillor Greg Hoffort, who is on the nursing home committee and the executive director of St. Joseph’s Hospital.
They told council they are applying for funding under the federal government’s COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream.
The grant would be applied to a 15-bed expansion for the long-term care ward at St. Joseph’s Hospital, which Hoffort said could be considered Phase 1 of the new nursing home project, since the level of care for long-term care is the same as the nursing home.
But they can’t apply for the entire nursing home replacement due to grant restrictions.
“This one seemed like it would be worth the effort to submit an application, so it’s one of those things where we don’t have any really high expectations. We hope it goes somewhere and we’ll be really happy if it does,” said Hoffort, who admitted the application would be a long-shot, since communities from across the country are applying for this funding.
In addition to the 15 rooms, a new common area would be built.
“We have a lot of synergies built into St. Joseph’s Hospital as far as heating and cooling systems and the works,” said Hoffort.
Hoffort said the committee has been turning over every stone they can to get the new nursing home to move forward. Estevan has had the necessary funds for the project since early 2015.
“The COVID funding is available, it was suggested we take a look at it to see if we qualify for this grant, for this funding,” said Hoffort.
Kindopp said they have come up with a number of ways to make this project proceed. They have met with various ministers of health, and rural and remote health. Citizens of Estevan have written letters and signed petitions, calling for the project to proceed.
“Every time we meet with a minister, and anyone we get to talk to, all we say to them is we are open to alternative or innovative or creative ways to move ahead on this project,” said Kindopp.
A study from 1080 Architecture showed they could cut $10 million from the project’s $40 million cost if it were on the grounds of St. Joseph’s Hospital, and they could save $500,000 a year by attaching the new nursing home to the hospital.
The current regional nursing home has about $12 million in needed repairs, Kindopp said.
“This is simply another step to try to come up with alternative, creative ways that we can progress in replacing the present Estevan Regional Nursing Home, which we have to do,” said Kindopp.
In making the motion to support the project, Councillor Shelly Veroba said the committee has put in a lot of work to make the new nursing home happen.
The total amount of the grant application is $6,126,535, with $1,1150,000 coming from funding from seven municipalities, including the City of Estevan and six area RMs. Hoffort stressed the municipal component of this grant is not an additional funding request, but through funds already committed in 2012.
Mayor Roy Ludwig said he hopes the application will be successful, and that the province would be more willing to come forward with their money.
Also on the agenda was a request from Jocelyn Dougherty, who owns the Orpheum Theatre with her husband Alan. They were seeking some form of assistance with their 2020 property taxes.
The theatre was closed form March 18 to Sept. 11, when it had zero revenue. Since then, it has been open four days per week in the small cinema. They hope to open more days per week if attendance warrants it and if film companies continue to release new movies, but many prominent new releases have been postponed.
And while they can show classic movies, they can’t do it for months and hope to survive.
“The Orpheum Theatre is an important part of downtown Estevan and has been for 106 years. With the variety of entertainment we provide, we have been important to the local economy and tourism as we bring many out of town visitors to the community.”
And the Orpheum brings people to the area with concerts several times a year, and they support numerous local causes.
They suggested a grant from the city to assist with paying taxes, and would like to have the city waive interest owed on taxes until spring 2021, when they hope to be in better shape financially.
“We are doing our best to keep the business going during a pandemic, however cannot promise this will be possible.”
Council members sympathized with the Orpheum’s situation, but said they wouldn’t support an abatement. Councillor Travis Frank said the Orpheum is a huge asset, and he doesn’t want Estevan to lose its movie theatre like Weyburn did. But he doesn’t want to set a precedent.
“We have lots of businesses that are struggling so hard this year. I don’t know how we can possibly do this without having to give it to everybody.”
He suggested turning to the province and reminding them that businesses are struggling and the city could use help.
Veroba said the Orpheum is an important part of the social life in the city with its movies and concerts. She suggested that the Orpheum look to organizations like the Estevan Chamber of Commerce for potential support programs.
City manager Jeff Ward said there are solutions such as monthly payment programs that would stop the interest or penalty accrual.
Council has referred the request to city assessor Trina Sieben to work with the Orpheum and to show them the options available.
