Council agreed to renew the City's membership in the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association.
The self-described voice of urban Saskatchewan, SUMA lobbies the provincial government on behalf of communities and works with the province on matters such as revenue sharing and infrastructure spending. SUMA officials were instrumental in developing the municipal operating grant program which pumps well over $1 million into the City's coffers.
The renewal will cost the City $9,939.
In his report, city manager Jim Puffalt said the kickoff to the annual Keep it Clean campaign is April 16.
On that day City staff members, council members and volunteers in the community will pick areas in the city and then clean up the litter and trash. As part of the campaign the City will also allow residents to take items to the dump for free from April 16 to April 22.
Puffalt said residents can also help by walking through a park in their area and picking up litter, picking up litter on their property, in the back alleys around their house and anywhere else they may see trash.
City clerk Judy Pilloud responded to comments at the March 12 council meeting that the city is purchasing stationery outside of Estevan.
In a report to council, Pilloud said it is the City's policy to shop locally whenever possible. She also presented figures noting that of the roughly $45,000 spent on stationery in 2011, just $4,945 went to businesses outside of Estevan. In 2012 the City has yet to make a purchase outside of Estevan.
The issue of buying locally also prompted council to re-tender the hardware portion of their 2012 computer tender. Councillor Chris Istace pushed the matter noting that he was not pleased the recommendation was to go with an out of town company. The package will be brought back to council once it is re-tendered.
The tender for dust control chemicals went to Prairie Mud and Chemical at a cost of $149,850. The tender for traffic paint was awarded to General Paint of Regina at a cost of $28,044. There were no local tenders received.
Council also approved a tender to purchase $18,000 in dishes and utensils for events at Spectra Place. The cost of the dishes would be financed by the revenue from events and Puffalt estimated that payback would be achieved in early 2013.
The City currently rents dishes for events at the facility.
The tender package for Phase 2 of the new reservoir system was also approved. Council agreed to accept the tender from C&C Construction of $957,849.
Work on the reservoir is currently ongoing behind St. Joseph's Hospital. The total cost of the project is estimated at $8 million and is being financed by a low interest loan that was facilitated by the Saskatchewan Infrastructure Growth Initiative.
