Mayors of area towns are mostly feeling optimistic heading into the year 2000, in light of a healthy past 12 months in their respective communities.

In a year-end interview with the mayors of Lang, Stoughton, Yellow Grass and Radville, the crisis facing the agricultural sector was acknowledged to be a factor in their local economies, but most of the mayors felt there will be an improvement in this sector and for their economies as a whole in the coming year.

"We're still holding our own. We haven't lost any businesses or elevators. I think we're probably going into 2000 as optimistic as in the last three or four years. Our school numbers are up, and there are some good signs, but it all depends on the farming economy," said Mayor Al Levesque of Stoughton, adding the effects of the farm crisis hits smaller towns like his more so than larger centres.

In the past year, the town completed a new subdivision near the New Hope Pioneer Lodge, and they're pushing for regional waste management through the Cornerstone Regional Economic Development Authority, of which Levesque is the vice-chairman.

On the infrastructure side, the town applied for grant money in 1999 for street improvements, but wasn't given any as only projects for water and sewage projects were approved, said Levesque.

Stoughton also has quite a few oil industry employees, said Levesque, with some spinoff coming from the Alliance Pipeline project this past year and in the coming year as they complete the pipeline section from Stoughton northwestwards.

At Lang, Mayor Al Broderick said some area farms had a dismal year in 1999 but there hasn't been much effect on the town's economy yet.

The town gained some new families and a new restaurant from a business which started out as a bakery, and some road upgrading was done this past year.

"Each year we do more upgrading, with the biggest thing in the last five years being new paving. We haven't gone into debt to do it," said the mayor.

The turnover to the year 2000 wasn't much of a factor for the town to deal with, other than a new computer system for the town office.

In the coming year, the biggest event for the town will be the millennium homecoming in mid-July, which will feature a large cabaret, a parade, fireworks and visiting over a three-day span, said Mayor Broderick. The town will be pushing its empty residential and commercial lots in the coming year, and overall there is a feeling of optimism for the year 2000.

"We've had a few expenses that we didn't count on, but you get that every year. I think we're optimistic about the new year; we're holding our own," said the mayor.

The positive feelings were echoed by Mayor Bonnie Piggott of Yellow Grass, who said overall the past year went well for the town, although there has been some effect from the farm crisis. The coming year should also be a good one, with firm plans to be set at the council's first meetings of the year.

Some town businesses have found things a little slower than usual, said the mayor, noting how the agricultural industry is faring has a definite effect on them.

The coming year should prove to be an improvement, she said, hopeful that as other parts of the economy improves there will be more traffic, which in turn means more business for the town, situated on Highway 39.

Darald Marin of Radville isn't worried about the problems being faced by farmers, saying it's nothing new for Saskatchewan producers.

"They've been able to weather it. We've been here before and we'll be here again. These commodity prices are cyclical, but will correct itself. Everybody knows that and I think they've adjusted their budgets accordingly. I think we can look for a rebound in commodity prices this year, it's just a question of when," said the mayor, adding that area ranchers are doing well with good livestock prices.

Some of the positives for the town this past year has been a slowdown in the high demand for housing experienced the year before, with a major housing development planned for this coming spring.

There are two new doctors in Radville, he added, who arrived in the fall, and are making their mark in the community, and the town regained its John Deere implement dealership in the past year after it had been closed for a time in 1998.

The town will have a new administrator this year, as Sherry Scott will take over from Lyle Fisher who is retiring. The town foreman, Gary Van De Sype, is also retiring, and town employee Gary Schmidt will be taking over that position. Grant Sawyer has also joined the town's maintenance staff.

Mayor Marin said there will be an announcement to come around summertime which should provide some additional jobs in the town, declining to provide any further details at this time.

Radville has also joined the newly-formed Deep South Regional Economic Development Authority, which also includes Pangman and Ogema and extends to Avonlea. Mayor Marin said the group is trying to fill in a gap for the communities between Weyburn and Assiniboia, with an office likely to be set up in Ogema.