By STEPHAN BURNETT, Weyburn Review Editor
A rezoning bylaw was passed at City Council on Monday night to accommodate the development of the Westfair Foods retail-wholesale store development on Souris Avenue, which is expected to open its doors some time before Christmas.
Mayor Don Schlosser said he couldn't give any specific date when the store would be opening its doors but he did say he expects to see the store up and running, complete with a gas bar, some time around Christmas of this year.
Schlosser agreed the development is basically a done deal and added the Westfair Foods development demonstrates the business community's confidence in locating in Weyburn.
The business is expected to create between 40 and 50 jobs and cost in the range of $5-6 million to build.
Schlosser also said he has been reassured the present OK Economy store will not close down.
The new store will be similar in many respects to the Real Canadian Wholesale Store set up in Swift Current within the last six weeks, said Schlosser, who later clarified the store will be closer in makeup to the Real Canadian Superstore than the company's Wholesale Club.
Councillor Debra Button issued her challenge once again to the "clean-up wannabees" of Estevan in the 43rd annual Clean-up campaign for the Golden Garbage Can scheduled for May 29.
"The theme this year is the back lanes and we'll be hammering that theme home," said Button.
The first meeting of the clean-up committee group was held last week at the Legion. The area chairmen have been selected and the free landfill weekends have been scheduled for May 1-2 and May 15-16.
"I know we can win and we have issued the letter of challenge and I'm asking council if they're prepared to come out on May 29 and pick garbage," said Button. Councillor Michael Pickering indicated he would be involved.
Council decided to reschedule its board of revision meetings for April 15 for the Weyburn Square Mall and for April 19 for Greystone Manor and Paradise Herbs.
City Assessor Ron Abel said the three companies are claiming there's an error in the way their property was valued. Abel also said there will be evidence presented to the board of revision regarding the companies' arguments on the 15th and the 19th. The Saskatchewan Assessment Management Agency will defend the assessments and will have representatives present at the meetings.
The City of Weyburn received correspondence from the Weyburn Motocross Club. The club reports a Canadian Motocross Association-sanctioned event is scheduled to be held on May 16 at the Moffat pits west of the Weyburn Golf Course. The group requested permission to hold the event and also asked for permission to use city equipment operated by city volunteers to prepare the track for the race.
"It's a very good idea and I strongly recommend we pass the motion," said Councillor Pickering who added the Tourism Committee should work in concert with the Motocross Club to try and attract participants into Weyburn throughout the event. The motion passed unanimously.
Council also received correspondence from the Weyburn Kinsmen Club who informed councillors they are scheduling this year's edition of the Kinsmen Annual Spring Fling for May 29. The request for a community events permit was unanimously approved by council. A similar request for another community events permit was made by the Weyburn Rotary Polkafest Committee who have scheduled the Polkafest for June 5; the motion was passed by council.
The Weyburn 2020 Committee met on March 24 and within that meeting a number of issues were discussed, including that the RM of Weyburn was very complimentary to City crews and how they handled the water situation at the dam. The Southeast Regional Economic Development Authority reported 12.5 per cent of the business committee responded to their business survey.
The regional college integration plan was announced on Monday at which Councillor Ray Hamm and Mayor Don Schlosser were present. The Comp band is competing in a national festival being held in Toronto. The Weyburn Chamber of Commerce has elected a new executive and the Farm Home and Leisure Show is running on April 22-23. A development plan has been completed and sent to consultants and first draft of a zoning bylaw is two-thirds complete.
Also on March 30, there was another meeting of the Weyburn 2020 in regard to the farm-income crises. Councillor Hamm said there were several businesses who communicated their interest and appreciation for the urban-rural meeting and stated the lack of turn out by the business community did not express a lack of interest by the urban-business community, as many businesses had communicated to him that the meeting was a good idea.
On March 24 the Parks Board met and discussed the Riverfront Market area, and discussions also were made surrounding the purchase bid of Carl Brady Trucking for 35 acres of lands protected by the city and other lands in close proximity held within City ownership. It was decided by Tatagwa Parkway Planning Commission and Parks Board to keep the lands within city management to protect the riverfront for future development and to protect the water supply.
Councillor Marlene Nedelcov also reported the Weyburn Wheat Festival met on April 6 and that the Festival committee has approximately $22,000 in the bank which puts the group in pretty good shape. Valerie Thomas reported this year's concert theme will be, As I Recall. This year's edition of the festival will feature space rentals for crafts as well as an educational component concerning products made with wheat, and the proceeds from the Sunday morning worship service will once again be directed toward the Western Grains Foodbank.
The tourism committee met on April 6 and a tourism symposium took place today and tomorrow in Carlyle, attended by Donna Hastings, tourism coordinator. The tourism committee also discussed snowmobiling trails and a conference kit was updated. As well, the 100th birthday of the founding of Weyburn was held at the Soo Line Historical Museum and the event was well attended, reported Nedelcov. The Crocus Spring Festival is expected for May 2 and a Serco committee meeting is scheduled for April 15 from 5-9 p.m. at the Colosseum, while the Farm, Home and Leisure Show is scheduled for April 22 and 23.
The Weyburn Public Library board met on April 6 and the annual spring Book Sale is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, April 15 and 16, in the Weyburn Square Mall. The Genealogical Society is scheduled to meet on Sunday, April 18 in the library and a demonstration is expected from the society on microfilm which was recently purchased.
Councillor Button said while circulation levels have been reported to be down, February usage of the computers was at 700 users while March usage was at 800 users.
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