The city's financial picture is in the black for 1999, with a small overall surplus reported to city council on Monday night, along with surpluses from some of the city's departments.

In the audited financial statements and public accounts, the city recorded a general fund surplus of $6,382 for the year, up from the projected surplus of $2,000, and up from last year's surplus of $2,405.

For utilities, the waterworks recorded a surplus of $7,286, while sewage had a surplus of $6,501. Combined with the general fund surplus, it adds up to a total of $20,170 for 1999, said Mayor Don Schlosser in presenting the report. He added the city was able to transfer some $180,000 into capital reserves as a result of this year's performance.

The city's main capital project in 1999, the new fire hall and public works complex, was listed worth $1.4 million, which came in at about $4,100 over budget, according to facilities chairman Ray Hamm. Some of the extra costs were attributed to furniture costs and the plebiscite held to determine the facility's location.

In the statement of revenue and expenditures for the city's general fund, the city collected a total of $3.57 million in taxes, along with $669,000 in grants-in-lieu, and $1.03 million in operating grants and transfers from other governments. Overall, revenues were $7.4 million, up from $7.2 million the year before.

On the expenses side, general government cost $740,000, down slightly from the year before, with increases seen in protective services ($1.3 million, up from $1.2 million for police), $1.8 million for transportation services, up from $1.7 million, and environmental development which cost $352,000, up from $309,000 the year before. Recreation and culture expenses went down slightly to $1.40 million from $1.47 million the year before. Expenditures totalled $7.4 million.

City council was informed that city engineer Bob Kinash was selected as one of the top 10 public works leaders in North America, the first time this award has gone to a Saskatchewan person since 1988.

Mayor Schlosser said the award came through the American Public Works Association for Kinash's service and dedication in public works. Kinash has worked with the city since 1976.

He was nominated out of a field of public works employees from across North America. The criteria was based on Kinash's ability in public works, showing excellence and dedication in public service and outstanding achievements, said the mayor.

The Top Ten list is chosen by a panel of judges representing many of the association's co-sponsoring agencies in Canada and the U.S.

"This is an accomplishment that Bob and the city can be proud of," said the mayor.

The issue of use of the city's landfill by residents and businesses in the RM of Weyburn remains unsolved this week, following a meeting between the two municipalities.

Mayor Schlosser said Monday night there was to be more information forwarded to the city about a scale and the cost of its installation at the landfill, but this information had not been received by the council meeting, so any decision on the five options presented by the RM was tabled for now.

The RM council will be holding a special meeting today, March 15, to discuss the issue and the points raised at the committee meeting held last week.

Fire Chief Denis Pilon tabled his department's annual report on Monday, saying the move to the new fire hall was the major step forward for the department in 1999.

The new fire hall facility will provide more room for their equipment and vehicles, and will enable the fire department to host training programs and seminars for their personnel and for area fire departments. One plus this year was the addition of training props from PanCanadian, as they had to remove them as part of the construction of the carbon dioxide project near Goodwater.

The equipment allows for training in flammable liquid fires, and will be located on a site north of the city's landfill.

The total number of fire calls this past year was 99 responses and 63 actual fires, of which 34 were in the city and 29 in the rural areas. Last year 18 of the 22 fires in the RM of Weyburn were grass or crop fires.

Rural firefighting generated $23,020 in revenue in 1999, while the cost for fighting fires in the rural areas was $141,994. The fire department's budget was $361,441 for 1999.

The dollar loss in property for the year was its lowest since 1996, with a total loss recorded of $109,478. There were no major fire losses in the city, which contributed to the large drop in dollar loss. There were also no reported firefighter or civilian injuries or deaths due to fire for the second year in a row.

The council's facilities committee asked for the public library addition project to go to tender in order to get an accurate idea of what the actual cost to build will be.

Coun. Hamm said the initial estimate was around $700,000, and more recently the estimate is over that amount. The committee wants to know what the actual costs will be based on the tender bids by contractors.

Asked what money the city would be out if they decided not to proceed to construction this year, Mayor Schlosser said the only loss would be the tendering cost, around $1,400. The plans themselves would still be useful later if it was decided not to build the addition this year.

The city has held budget meetings, but is awaiting the provincial budget at the end of the month before finalizing their own budget for 2000, including the library project.

Coun. Debra Button told council later the library's building fund is up to $32,945, with the goal being $100,000 to go towards the project's cost.

City Hall will study a request by Grace United Church to use the old fire hall for temporary storage when construction on their addition begins this year.

The church requested the use of the old fire hall to store such items as pews, furniture and the church's pipe organ and its many parts. The addition will require the demolition of the old choir loft and chancel area on the church's north side.

The church is in the process of getting approval from the national church body, projecting a start date of mid-May to early June of this year.

Coun. Bill Rudachyk recommended the city look into the feasibility of this request, including looking into the question of insurance coverage. A decision will be made by council on March 27.

City council approved a request from a Regina-based funeral home to set up a business in Weyburn's Elgin Mall.

There were no objections to the proposal from Paragon Funeral Services, which will convert three former classrooms into a funeral home operation comprised of 2,200 square feet.

The home will include a garage-embalming room, a viewing and service room with 20-30 seats, and an administration office.

The company is proposing to start renovations within two weeks, to be open for business in two months' time.