City council will establish an ad hoc committee to further investigate the proposal by Hazco Environmental Services to locate an industrial and oilfield waste disposal site near the city landfill.

The need for further investigation came following closed-door discussion by city council in committee on Monday evening, a week after a public information meeting was held on the proposal in the Legion Hall.

Around 200 people attended the meeting, which featured an explanation of what the company is proposing from CEO John Thompson, and included a question-and-answer period with residents about the concerns they have.

Most councillors feel the proposal warrants more investigation, particularly in light of some of the concerns raised by residents, and may include tours to communities with waste cells similar to what is being proposed for Weyburn, said city manager Bob Smith.

"The majority of council felt we should give it due diligence. We're still at the investigation stage," said Smith, noting as an example the concern of possible odour was raised by a number of residents; part of the committee's work will be to visit a similar waste site and see if there is in fact an odour problem associated with them.

The committee will include councillors George Kalman and Rob Stephanson, along with representation from the Southeast Regional Economic Development Authority and members of the media.

In a related matter, Coun. Kalman demanded an apology from Mayor Don Schlosser and city solicitor Greg Bobbitt, who presided as the moderator of the Hazco public meeting.

Kalman said they treated two residents in particular, Ray Mazer and Ed Publack, very poorly, and noted he received phone calls from other residents who were upset at their treatment.

Addressing Mayor Schlosser, he said, "I was very impressed with the number of people who came out and their concerns, but I was very disappointed in you and with the city solicitor, Mr. Bobbitt."

"I'm dumbfounded," answered the mayor. "I would like to know what statements you're talking about. Was I at the same meeting you were at? I can't recall anything I said that was derogatory to either of those gentlemen."

Coun. Kalman did not elaborate any further at the council, but explained in an interview he felt there were comments made that were inappropriate to a public meeting. He also is concerned that the public may stay away from future meetings if they think they will meet with such attitudes from city representatives.

"Right at the start of the meeting, we were told by Mr. Bobbitt the meeting was to be democratic, and for comments not to get personal. When Mr. Mazer was talking, he got personal," said Coun. Kalman.

In regard to Publack, he pointed out that the mayor seemed to make light of the resident's age when he asked him how long the landfill has been in its current location.

"Quite frankly, I've had enough of that. I didn't think it was right to be speaking down to citizens. If we invite people to come out, we should be respectful and not try to upstage them or downgrade them," said Kalman.

Asked for his response as the moderator, Bobbitt said, "I believe Mr. Kalman may be overly sensitive. I know Mr. Mazer very well. He's a lawyer in Weyburn, and if he feels put out, I'm sure he can contact me and we can work it out."

Bobbitt said he watched the council meeting and found himself puzzled at the councillor's comments.

"I did not find the mayor's comments insulting, and I don't feel I was insulting either," he said, adding Kalman should be aware some of those contacting him may have a particular agenda or other objectives in mind.

For his part, Coun. Kalman said he's been the butt of personal comments by Mayor Schlosser on a number of occasions, usually in committee or after council is done, but his concern is when comments of that type are extended to citizens of the city.

A new police chief will be sworn in on Tuesday, April 1, at 4:30 p.m., after the police commission decided on Tuesday to appoint Inspector Rod Horsman as the new chief.

Council was told Monday evening there were three candidates interviewed by the personnel firm hired by the city to search out a new police chief.

Inspector Horsman has spent his entire 26-year police career with the Weyburn Police Service, which he began on June 1, 1977. He was promoted to sergeant in March of 1993, and was made inspector in September of 2001, in which position he served as the second-in-command to Chief Bill Millar.

"We've got a good working relationship now with the city, with other agencies and with Justice. Both the chief and myself developed that close-knit relationship, and I just want to maintain it and help expand it," said Insp. Horsman on Tuesday.

Chief Millar ended his 36-year career with the city police at the end of February, including serving as chief for the past nine years.

City officials were ecstatic to find out Weyburn is one of the province's top cities for employment growth, particularly in comparison with other larger communities such as Moose Jaw and Regina.

City manager Bob Smith and Mayor Schlosser attended a meeting sponsored by the provincial government about economic growth.

In a study of employment growth for the decade from 1991 to 2001, Weyburn had between six and seven per cent growth, which put the city fourth in a list of 14 Saskatchewan communities, behind Lloydminster, Saskatoon and Estevan.

Estevan's place was taken by Humboldt, when those years are narrowed to between 1996 to 2001. In that time, Weyburn grew by six per cent, compared to 1.8 per cent in Estevan, just behind Humboldt at eight per cent and Saskatoon's seven per cent.

"We're always hearing that we're not creating any employment in our community. These are numbers that say otherwise," said Mayor Schlosser, noting one big aspect of that growth was when Alcatel Canada Wire (now Nexans) expanded their cable and wire manufacturing facility, and brought in other businesses, including Universal Reel and Tenold Transport, plus a new reel manufacturing company which has just set up at Tenold's depot in the industrial park.

"I think basically it's employment that's been created in several sectors," said the mayor, noting it will continue as such developments as a new Wal-Mart store and an ethanol plant are built this year in Weyburn.

City manager Smith said he was most surprised that Weyburn outstripped Moose Jaw in growth, with Moose Jaw showing a decline in employment of almost four per cent.

Roughly half the proposed local improvement projects will actually go ahead this year, after seven projects were petitioned out by residents.

Two other petitions were received by the city but were declared invalid due to a lack of sufficient signatures by property owners on the affected streets.

The projects which were successfully petitioned out include Bannerman Street; Second Avenue S.E. from Third to Fourth Street; Third Avenue S.E. from Government Road to Third Street; McLelland Street; Prairie Avenue from Government Road to Second Street; Bison Avenue from Fourth to Fifth Street; and Park Avenue from 14th to 13th Street.

The invalid petitions were for Third Street from Railway to Souris Avenues, and 14th Street from Coteau to Park Avenues.

These two projects will go ahead as planned, along with 13th Street from Douglas Road to near Brimacombe Drive; Eighth Street N.E. from Railway to Souris Avenues; Zabel Bay; Bison Avenue from Fifth to Sixth Streets; Souris Avenue from Second to Third Streets; and Third Street from Souris to Coteau Avenues.

The estimated total cost of these projects will be $375,000, which is cost-shared between the city and the affected property owners.