WEYBURN -— As work has begun to replace the traffic lights at the intersection of Government Road and First Avenue, the City of Weyburn had results of a traffic study at that intersection to see if turning arrows might help the traffic flow.
The study was conducted on April 30 and May 1, and it was determined that peak flow times are from 8 to 9 a.m., 12 to 1 p.m. and 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.
The consultants doing the study did an analysis to see if a different configuration or signal timing might improve traffic flow, and developed different scenarios.
In the current configuration, they determined the overall delay at peak time was 19 seconds, with the left northbound lane seeing the longest delay of 22 seconds.
In a scenario with protected or permitted left turns, the overall delay was calculated at 34 seconds at peak time, and the longest delay would be 46 seconds in the eastbound turning and right lanes.
City engineer Jennifer Wilkinson told council they determined the current configuration is the best one, and no left turning arrows will be added when the new lights are installed.
Mayor Marcel Roy pointed out that for the city to add in another lane at that intersection would require taking out houses to widen the road.
“That’s just not a realistic scenario,” said Wilkinson.
Asked if the Department of Highways has any input, she noted as the roads are inside the city boundaries, they leave it up to the city, but if they see issues that will affect the two highways there (Highways 13 and 35) they will pass on their comments.
• In other council business, council was given an update on the tax enforcement process by the City.
The list of properties with unpaid taxes is now down to 13, owing a total of $135,722, a letter requesting consent of title from the Provincial Mediation Board will be sent to the property owners.
They have all received a six-month notice and have not paid the outstanding taxes.
Once the Provincial Mediation Board is notified, the board will make contact with the property owners and attempt to make payment arrangements.
If the board is unable to make contact or the property owner fails to make payments in the next six months, the board will then give permission for consent of title.
The city has only taken on a property title three times in the last decade.
• Council awarded the contract for a geotechnical investigation of roads, which will then inform the budget-making process for 2025.
There has already been $24,000 committed in the current year for traffic studies, and the contract for this investigation was awarded to Ground Engineering Consultants in the amount of $36,750, the best price of eight proposals received by the city.
The road assessment program will include a grade hole investigation and asphalt rehabilitation recommendations for a number of roadways to be redone under the Urban Highway Connection program and the Infrastructure Revitalization program for 2025 and following years.
• Council passed a new swimming pool bylaw with second and third readings, after making some amendments to the bylaw first introduced on May 27.
Weyburn had no regulations in its zoning bylaw to govern the installation of swimming pools and hot tubs, and was one of the few cities in the province not to have these rules in place.
There has been an increase in requests from residents for information about regulations around installing swimming pools in a back yard or a hot tub.
A development and building permit will now be required for any future pool installations, as well as a plan showing its location in the yard, and the depth and dimensions of the pool with fencing and enclosure specifications.
The changes to the bylaw include that inflatable kiddie pools are not included in this bylaw, plus requirements for self-locking and self-closing devices on fences for pools and hot tubs were added to the regulations.
