One of the highlights of the year in Stoughton for Mayor Jerry Mamer was an engineering audit of the town's water and sewer system that found no upgrades are needed to meet new provincial regulations.

"I thought that was the case, but now we're reassured," he said. The province requires each town to complete its audit by 2005. "I'm immensely happy that it's not going to cost us more money," he said.

That key element leaves the town in good shape to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2004, he said. Official celebrations will be held on July 2, with Stoughton Days following immediately on July 3 and 4. A special coin has been minted for the anniversary.

Not only will the 730 residents not need higher taxes to improve the water and sewer system but it has room for growth, he said.

The town has an ample supply of water from wells that are fed by a huge underground lake located northeast of town, he said. It spent $15,000-20,000 this year installing a new pump to improve the water pressure.

There have already been spin-offs, he said. A feed mill located out of town in the RM of Tecumseh, supplied by town water, was attracted to the area this summer by an economic development committee made up of the municipalities and agricultural groups, he said.

Mamer said a couple of families have moved to the town as a result, and the feed mill owners are thinking about expanding to include the production of pellets for the beef market. "So it was a good year."

Mamer added that business in the town has also been stable.

"We had some drought in our area. The early-seeded crops did okay but the hot weather kicked the life out of the later-seeded ones," he said.

With agricultural conditions like that, it's not so bad that while no new businesses have been opened in town, none of them have been lost either, he said.

Some of the town's recreational facilities were upgraded this year and others are getting more attention, said the mayor.

This summer was the first year for the town's new pool to be fully-operational and both the pool and the hot tub received "tremendous" use, he said. The pool is the only one in the area, with Weyburn's formerly being the closest to residents in the area.

The golf course also had a good year. "People from Weyburn and Estevan are starting to catch on that they can get in a game after supper and do it a little cheaper."

The rink also has new plexiglass which allows it to hold minor hockey and old-timers' games.

The town bought a new handibus for the Newhope Lodge this year, thanks to a capital grant, and enjoyed an excellent year for the ambulance it operates with the help of volunteers, said Mamer. The ambulance board will pay for another EMT to be trained next year, he said.

Mamer expects the town may have to turn its attention to Railway Avenue with a major overhaul. Other than that, he sees no major expenses on the horizon.