A group of close to 50 community activists from the Laing Crescent area of Weyburn have signed a petition to try to save the Laing Crescent Mini-Park Playground which was scheduled to by pulled down within three days.

Larry Heggs came to council on Monday night to request City Council delay pulling the equipment out of the park. The City complied by voting to provide the community group with one month's extension to the end of August.

City Council will now work toward assisting the group in achieving it's goal of upgrading the equipment at the park.

The estimated cost of the equipment is approximately $5,700.

Heggs said a swing for the park will cost the community group $830, an eight-foot slide will cost $1,300, a teeter totter will cost $746 and a small play structure will cost $2,800.

"They also say the cost of preparing the site and the installation of the fall-surfaces could almost double that cost," said Heggs.

The community group has already acquired donated sand and gravel, and the manpower to install the new equipment and to take down the old equipment will be a volunteer effort, he said.

The park at Laing Crescent is important to neighbourhood children and their parents because if the park is pulled down the area's children will have to cross 16th Street to play at a park, said Heggs.

"We all know the restraints on the City with their budget so we decided if we could do it we would," he said.

Councillor Marlene Nedelcov asked city engineer Bob Kinash if he has reviewed the proposal.

"This group has been working quite closely with us and they know the cost. The only problem is how long do we leave it? We could be liable if we leave it in," said Kinash.

Mayor Schlosser then asked Kinash if a sign could be posted that children must be supervised; Councillor Hamm added he had seen similar signs recently in another city.

But Kinash responded the signs would not reduce the liability to the City, because younger children might not be able to read.

Despite this, Council unanimously supported the motion to delay the removal of the play structures for one month.

The City decided to begin charging other RM of Weyburn on a per capita basis for its use of the landfill beginning Jan. 1, 2000.

There were no dissenting voices in Council chambers against the fee which would charge $7.50 per person to the RM of Weyburn plus additional fees for tipping. Although there was an admission from both Councillor Rudachyk and Councillor Hamm that the RM was not happy with the idea.

"We have approached the RM of Weyburn and they've stated in no uncertain terms they're not excited about the $7.50 per person. They see it as an imposition of taxes on their residents but we believe it should be looked at as a service. I hope it's not taken hostilely by the RM of Weyburn. I would like to see continued good relations and later see if they'd like to play a part in the regional landfill system," said Hamm.

More than a few City Councillors were hot under the collar at Monday night's meeting because the air conditioner at City Hall needs to be replaced. The vote to replace the air conditioner was unanimous and the mayor was assured it will be installed as soon as possible.