City council has tabled its decision on whether to give up commercial refuse collection until after the Chamber of Commerce has had its September meeting.

A motion was made to proceed with turning commercial refuse collection over to the private sector as of Jan. 1, 2001, but Coun. Debra Button said too many questions hadn't been answered at this point.

Council was considering a proposal to end garbage pickup from commercial property owners after being informed the city is losing about $65,000 a year. The shortfall comes as the cost for commercial pickup is around $80,000 a year with revenues of $35,000, leaving a $45,000 deficit. An additional $20,000 loss is the result of no revenue being collected from city trucks bringing refuse into the landfill.

If the city did stop picking up business refuse, it would remove the need for an upgrade for a garbage truck, which would cost the city $105,000 with trade-in.

A letter was sent in June to the Chamber of Commerce about this proposal, but no reply has been received to date, and according to chamber representative Coun. Mike Pickering, no response has been received at the chamber office from its members either.

Some of the questions Coun. Button wants answers to before proceeding to a vote include how many businesses would be rebated on their taxes, and what would happen to the two union positions currently involved in commercial refuse collection.

She and Coun. Pickering were also concerned about the lack of space in some of the downtown lanes behind businesses, which don't have the necessary room for a large collection bin.

"It's something the property owners would have to work out. If they wanted to put a bin in a city parking spot, it would have to come back here to determine what the rent would be. Some properties built to the property line may have a problem," said city engineer Bob Kinash.

City commissioner Bob Smith said refuse collection comprises 2.46 per cent of the taxes paid by businesses.

Coun. Button said July is not the best time to make a decision, noting the chamber manager told her this issue has been tabled to their September meeting. The tabling motion passed 5-1.

A request from the Salvation Army for exemption from paying taxes on their thrift store was delayed until August to allow city administrators time to look into the legalities of the request.

The request was made by Major Larry Williams from the Salvation Army's divisional headquarters in Regina, asking for the exemption under the provincial Salvation Army Act of 1909. Under section 8.1 of the act, any property owned by the Salvation Army "used exclusively for the religious, charitable, welfare, social service or educational objectives and purposes" of the church shall be exempt from taxes.

In an additional paragraph, however, it states the exemption shall not apply on church-owned property for which rent is received.

"I have some questions as to the interpretation of the act as it applies to the Salvation Army here in Weyburn. If in fact it's the law, then we've been clearly in violation of it. I would like some idea as to what that interpretation might be," said Coun. Ray Hamm.

Coun. Button said the city should contact the Salvation Army to clarify if they are receiving any rental income on any of their buildings. Coun. Bill Rudachyk added it would be a good idea to get input from their solicitor as well about the legality of the Salvation Army Act.

Work is proceeding on a new service road off Highway 39, but there are no businesses lined up as yet to move into that area, despite a number of rumours floating around the city, said Mayor Don Schlosser.

After council approved a tender for the underground utilities at the site, the mayor told council there has been a lot of speculation among city residents about what business might be going in there, with some rumours that a business has already purchased property there.

"I've had no discussion with anybody. We're hoping someone will come along; we feel with water and sewer service, it will attract attention and get new people out there," said Mayor Schlosser.

Asked if it's the usual practice for the city to install services on vacant land if no one is lined up to buy it, the mayor replied that it was, as it makes the sale of land easier.

The tender to install water and sewer services was awarded to N.I.S. Contractors of Regina, who had the low bid of $48,541. A tender call was sent to a local firm, but the company was unable to submit a bid at this time.

The city can only afford to resurface two of the three tennis courts at Jubilee Park this year, council was told.

Facilities chairman Coun. Ray Hamm said council had originally authorized spending $3,600 to resurface all three tennis courts, but it turned out the estimate was too low compared to the actual cost. The cost to put new surfacing on two of the courts will be $2,300, with the third court left for next year.

The use of the tennis courts will be regulated through the Leisure Centre, added Coun. Hamm, due to a concern that the green coating material now in place can be easily damaged by gravel picked up from the unfinished court.

He said the Weyburn Tennis Club will have a key to the courts, and otherwise tennis players will have to go through the Leisure Centre to book use of the courts.

Asked if tennis players will have to pay to use the courts, Coun. Hamm replied, "That hasn't been determined yet. We just want to be sure the people going in there are only going to play tennis and not use skateboards or street shoes."

The lights at the tennis courts will also continue to be on until late at night, as Mayor Schlosser pointed out it's a security measure to help prevent vandalism at the courts or in nearby Jubilee Park.

City council approved a tender to paint the exterior of the water filtration plant, and if there is room in the budget to have an interior wall painted as well.

The bid from Gary's Painting of Weyburn was accepted for $13,375 for the exterior of the 1987 addition to the plant. The paint is currently in poor condition, caused by the trapping of vapour within the wall.

The contractor will use a high-pressure water wash to remove as much of the paint as possible, and will apply acrylic latex paint which is breathable to allow the vapour from the filtration plant to pass out.

As the department budgeted $17,500 for the project, they will see if the inside of the north wall can also be done; if not, the job will be done in-house by filtration plant staff this fall.