During tonight's regular meeting of Weyburn City Council, Councilor Dick Michel was not in attendance, but Council had a quorum nonetheless. 

October was proclaimed Communithon month in Weyburn. The community-driven live telethon will take place this year on Friday, October 28th. 

Businesses are already raising money with the leaf your mark campaign, read more HERE. The deadline is coming up this Friday for those who would like to be part of the day's entertainment lineup. Read more HERE.

Also approved during the meeting were two Discretionary Use Development Permits.

The first to be approved was a Change of Use Discretionary Permit, to build an addition to a nursery business, Weyburn Cooperative, which operates on the lower level of Grace United Church. No formal responses were submitted upon neighbourhood notification, until just prior to the Council meeting, but the plan is compatible with the City of Weyburn's Official Community Plan. 

City Manager Mathew Warren said the concern was due to parking.

"It's more in regards to people ignoring the two-hour limit within that area, so that's a concern they have with the nursery school being there and people ignoring the two hour parking within that area of the city."

He said the business owner would also have to get approvals from the province for the various requirements of the nursery operation.

The other development permit approved was for a home to be moved onto a residential property in Weyburn. The house relocation is similar to a Ready-to-Move Dwelling Unit, but the Discretionary Use Development Permit this time wasn't for a typical RTM. In fact, it's a mid-century bungalow located in another community.

While no concerns or objections were made by neighbours upon circulation, Councilor Jeff Richards asked Warren what the difference is, for this process, between a factory-ready house and one not brand new, coming from another property.

"It's a requirement for our Building Official to go and inspect that home, so Amanda Kaufmann, our building official, drove out to an outside community to review the older home to make sure that it met all the requirements. So what she would do is say that it's fit to be moved into the city and fits within all those requirements."

He said after the home is moved in, another inspection will take place. 

Mayor Marcel Roy said this concept has been discussed at SUMA, as a potentially great housing solution for larger centres, since rural homes don't sell as easily.

"So this is a progressive way of moving forward with this type of thing." 

City staff recommended the new dwelling comply with a few requirements, including that all permits be acquired, and that landscaping is completed within two years of the building permit being issued.

screenshotThe house located in a rural area will be moved to a residential property in Weyburn.

Also during tonight's meeting, the City of Weyburn's Engineering Department requested an internal loan for $550,000 to cover up to a total of $1,100,000 to complete a line relocation project at the City Landfill, which would be paid back over five years with landfill revenues. 

In fact, as of August 31, 2022, the City's landfill operating revenues from disposal fees have already exceeded the expected annual amount by $24,788. The Engineering Department also plans to propose a rate increase for environmental and disposal fees beginning in 2023, as part of the refuse bylaw renewal.

Councillor Mel Van Betuw asked Jennifer Wilkinson why SaskPower isn't covering this cost.

"SaskPower is deeming it a request of the city and saying that they have no need to move the line, so it is at the request of the city, although we are not allowed to operate within so many meters of that line because of the garbage and proximity to it."

She said the project has to be done, because Landfill staff, "can't even operate our equipment near it and it is hindering our operation quite significantly."

Read the full notes HERE.