ESTEVAN - The City of Estevan will receive $81,094 through the Transit Assistance for People with Disabilities (TAPD) program.
Estevan city council received a letter confirming the support during the Aug. 21 meeting. The funding is for the 2023-24 fiscal year and is based on 2022 numbers for the vans operated by SMILE Services.
Each community that participates in the TAPD program receives a pre-trip amount for the eligible public service trips provided and reported at the time of the grant application.
In 2022, there was a 44.7 per cent increase in the total number of trips for participants in the TAPD program in Estevan.
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Council denied a request from the Canada Vietnam Society to have the Vietnamese flag fly in front of city hall from Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, in honour of Vietnam National Day, which is Sept. 2.
Since it is a flag request and not a proclamation, the society did not need to be in council chambers for the request.
Coun. Kirsten Walliser said it is an important holiday to recognize, and there is a long-standing relationship between the Governments of Canada and Vietnam, but she noted the city was unable to locate a Saskatchewan or Estevan chapter before the request came in, so she recommended denying the flag raising, but she noted it was "a worthy cause". Council agreed with her assessment.
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Council approved an amended workplace harassment, violence and discrimination policy.
Helen Fornwald, who is the city's safety co-ordinator, said changes reflect current legislation. The city's previous document was no longer compliant, although it was noted the goals remain the same.
The policy states that nobody has to put up with harassment – for any reason at any time – whether it be a manager, an employee, a contractor, a member of council or the general public.
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The monthly water quality report for July, submitted by Shane Bucsis, the manager of the city's water and wastewater treatment plants, showed the city treated more than 191.8 million liters of water and pumped more than 185.1 million liters into the distribution system. There were no plant upsets and all regulated parameters for drinking water were met.
The city had one water main break in July.
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Four building permits worth $792,100 were issued in July, bringing the total for the year to 23 permits worth a little more than $1.96 million.
Included in July's total was one single-family residential permit worth $73,000, one garage for $19,000 and two permits classified as miscellaneous worth a total of $700,100.
For coverage of Estevan city council and breaking news from the City of Estevan, please visit our provincial news hub at Â鶹´«Ã½AV.ca.
