The members of the Estevan Chamber of Commerce received an update on the City of Estevan's plans for 2012 at their first public meeting of the year.
Councillors Lynn Chipley and Chris Istace were the featured speakers at the luncheon last Wednesday at Allie's Dining.
The duo gave an in depth look into the infrastructure work and capital spending the City has committed to for the upcoming year. Chipley said although things never move at the rapid pace she and Istace would like to see, they are happy with the amount of activity on the schedule.
Among the City's first tasks in 2012 will be finishing work that wasn't completed last year, Chipley said, in particular the Souris Avenue watermain replacement project, paving of the parking lot at the Souris Valley Aquatic and Leisure Centre and completion of the traffic lights at Rooney Road and Kensington Avenue.
As for other projects, Chipley said the airport will be a focus this year as the City works to ensure the runway is capable of landing large jets and other planes. To accomplish that, $1 million a year will be spent over the next five years.
"We have people coming in with $12 to $15 million jets and they are not going to land on a bumpy airstrip," she said. "They are the people that bring business to this community and keep it going. It's very important, we can land planes in Estevan that they can't land in Weyburn and that makes a huge difference when someone is choosing their site."
Within Estevan, Chipley said work will begin on Duncan Road to improve the drainage in that area. The watermain replacement program will also continue in 2012.
Istace added that leisure services will continue to be a major focus. Over $800,000 has been earmarked for pathways and parks, much of which will be spent in the Trojan subdivision. The rookie councillor noted that most of the work on the southern portion of Kensington Greens Park was completed last year but this year lights will be installed in the area and grass will be planted. He added the drainage swale, located between the Heritage condos and Brooks Road, will also have lights installed and grass planted this year.
The large storm pond adjacent to Kensington Avenue is also in line for some love and attention.
"The whole area is going to be resurfaced now that the major construction is done in the area," Istace said. "We are going to repair all the outfalls and the park itself is going to get $250,000. The pathway structure is going to be finished all the way around (the pond) and that includes retaining bridges, retaining structures, pathway entrance pads, all new topsoil and seeding. The pathway will be a 2.5 metre wide asphalt pathway."
Torgeson Park will also receive some much-needed attention. Istace said the City will spend $100,000 to light the pathways in the park and to add more trees and parking. The City will also continue to work on pathways in other areas with an ultimate goal of linking all of Estevan.
On the infrastructure side, Istace said he is particularly excited that the City and province will be teaming up to repave the sections of Highway 47 that run though Estevan. The north section from the train tracks to the City limits will be up first, as it needs the most work.
Istace added that Devonian Street from Kensington Avenue east will be upgraded with new drainage and pavement. The underground work on the gravel portion of Sixth Street should also be completed this year with an eye towards paving that area in 2013.
