City council approved a budget increase in funds heading to the Estevan Humane Society.
The City originally budgeted $27,500 this fiscal year to cover utility costs and wage coding work completed at the facility. During the Sept. 8 regular meeting of council, councillors committed another $23,000 to the Humane Society for funding of $50,500 over the year.
In a report provided to council, which was previously considered by councillors at a private meeting on Aug. 11, it noted there was recently some work required at the Humane Society, and a contractor was hired to remove damaged parts of the facility. The work cost $22,029, which the Humane Society has paid.
As a result of that bill, Humane Society management was requesting the City supply funds for the reconstruction in the amount of $20,433 along with providing trenching around the east side of the kennels.
Those costs put the budget close to $40,000 thus far this year, and there are another five months of utilities to pay for.
Mayor Roy Ludwig said during the open meeting the repairs were to rid the facility of black mould as a result of water damage. City Treasurer Jeff Ward, who prepared the report for council, noted the Humane Society operates out of a City building.
Councillor Kevin Smith noted this matter falls under the purview of the police board, "and they have simply been living on a shoestring for quite some time."
In support of the additional funding, Coun. Greg Hoffort noted the building is the City's and any delays to repairs would only cause increased issues and higher costs.
"It's unfortunate that it's not in the budget," he said, while adding it's a necessary expenditure to ensure the Humane Society maintains its needed services to the community.
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The latest building reports show the pace picked back up again in August after a brief slowdown in July.
The City of Estevan has now sold $28,637,084 in building permits through August, an increase from 2013, which in the same time period saw $24,290,903 in building permits issued.
The figures presented to council show building permit values are steady in all areas from 2013, but the commercial permits issued are now $14.2 million, up from $9.3 million through August 2013.
While the to-date totals are similar, July 2013 saw $8.3 million in permits issued, compared to $2.7 million this past July. In August however, permits issued totaled just over $4 million in August, up from $1.4 million worth in building permits issued in August 2013. That $4 million made August the second highest value month this year, behind only June, which saw a total value of building permits issued above $13 million.
So far this year, the City has issued 108 total permits, equaling 73 total units. That's an increase from 2013's 89 permits issued and 74 individual units.
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Councillors voted to approve the installation of two stop signs at the corner of Wellock Road and Nicholson Road, making the intersection a four-way stop. The added signs will stop east and westbound traffic on Wellock Road.
The matter had previously been discussed in council chambers and the issues of further residential development and increased traffic in that area were mentioned as councillors expressed their support for the additional signage.
