Weyburn city council and administration are taking a "wait-and-see" approach at this time in regard to HELP International and whether the organization will be vacating the city farm land on the city's northwest corner.
HELP's CEO Rodney Sidloski had requested a five-year extension to the agreement, to allow them time to find an alternate plot of land they could move their operations to, and council rejected the request, opting instead to stay with the terms of the agreement, which expired on Oct. 31.
Part of HELP's argument has been they were promised the city farm land as their permanent home, but also that they are threatening to invoice the City for all the tree planting they've done on city land over the years in various locations.
In a letter to city council in October, Sidloski pinpointed that number at around $350,000.
In response, city manager Bob Smith was adamant in pointing out the city has never at any time promised the land as a permanent home, and provided documentation to show that Sidloski has been informed of this on numerous occasions.
Referring to the letter from HELP to the city, "in which I was quoted as saying that the current property would be HELP's permanent home. I want to inform you that that was never said to him. I am unequivocal about this. (I advised) Mr. Sidloski that under no circumstances did the city ever advise him that it was HELP's permanent home, or that it was handed over to him."
In a copy of letter Smith sent to Sidloski in September 2008 on this issue, he reiterates, "I wish to advise that the City has never indicated that the property would be a 'permanent' home for HELP, although I know it would be your preference."
Also, in regard to the assertion that the land was "handed over" to HELP, Smith went on to say, "it was not handed over, it was leased to HELP International to assist them with a place to continue their work when the operation in the downtown location became unsuitable for the area."
As of Friday, the invoice had not been submitted by HELP, however Smith said he would look it over if and when he receives it.
The breakdown of the invoice amount was provided in the letter Sidloski sent in October, only a few weeks before his lease expired.
The costs include the cost of 62,300 trees provided by donors at $2.50 each, $155,750; the cost of 24,700 trees produced or grown out at HELP, $61,750; 11 sites surve y, planting plan, survival and replanting surveys over 10 years, $6,230; preworking of land, $31,250; cost of plastic mulch, grass seed, and planting/mulching labour for 62,300 trees, $124,600 over 10 years; cost of trees for replanting, and labour, $38,055.
The total cost of goods and services is $371,110, minus $18,000 for the $2,000 per year provided by the city, with net value at $353,110.
Smith indicated that firstly there was no contract from the city authorizing all of this tree planting, and secondly, the city was told the trees were being provided free, and the city paid $2,000 a year to cover incidental costs (such as cost of using a tractor, etc.)
He added the hope is that Sidloski will do the gentlemanly thing and honour the agreement, and move off the farm.
