The meeting got off to an entertaining start as Grade 4 and 5 students from Sacred Heart/Sacre Coeur performed a poem for the members of council. Their appearance was part of a mayor’s poetry challenge introduced by Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco.

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It was noted that the City’s safety co-ordinator, Helen Fornwald, was recently awarded the Safety Practitioner Award by the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association. The award is given in recognition of an individual’s dedication and outstanding contribution to the success of the SCSA.

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Council received a letter from Municipal Affairs Minister Daryl Hicke informing them that the 2012 education mill rates have been set.

For agricultural property, the rate is 3.91 mills while the rate for residential is 9.51 mills.  The commercial property rate depends on the value of the assessed business. On businesses with an assessment of less than $500,000 the rate is 12.25 mills. If the assessment is over $500,000, the assessment on the first $499,999 is 12.25 while an assessment between $500,000 and $5.9 million has a mill rate of 14.75 mills. The rate for an assessment of $6 million or more is 18.55 mills.

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Council approved a request from the Estevan Exhibition Association for three event permits. The association will be hosting the Rumble in the Dirt cabaret on June 16, beer gardens in conjunction with the Estevan Fair on June 18, 19 and 20 and beer gardens for the annual rodeo from Sept. 7 to 9.

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In his report, City manager Jim Puffalt said the kickoff to the annual Keep it Clean campaign on April 16 was a success.

Puffalt thanked the various City employees who were part of the event as well as volunteers from Arc Resources and Enbridge who also picked up garbage.

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Puffalt said the City is also excited about the upcoming Burton Cummings and Simple Plan concerts that will be in Spectra Place.

Cummings is scheduled to play on June 15 while Simple Plan will be in Estevan Aug. 12. He noted tickets are going quickly for both events. Puffalt said leisure services is also working on adding a show in July.

He also put out the call for groups interested in volunteering at the events. If a group supplies volunteers from their organization, they will receive $100 for each person who works an event.

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Council approved repairs for the City’s lift station located by Highway 18. According to a report from Puffalt, the work is required to prevent further damage to pipes, which are currently being pulled and twisted every time the pump runs.

The cost of the work, which was not included in the 2012 budget, is estimated at $22,000.

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Council was also presented with a new food and beverage services contract at the meeting. The report noted that Wenham Enterprises, the current operator, was the only business to respond to a request for it.

The members of council, after asking questions about the length of the deal and possible out clauses, passed the recommendation pending final approval of the contract.

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The building permit report for March was released at the meeting.  The City enjoyed a strong month as 16 permits, which had a combined value of $1.6 million, were issued.  The bulk of that figure was an institutional permit worth $1 million.

For the year, the City has issued 46 permits with a value of $7.1 million, which is slightly ahead of last year’s pace.