Council debated the new contract they are currently negotiating with the Estevan Chamber of Commerce.

The contract is for one year and asks for the chamber to develop a long-term economic plan for Estevan.

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The minutes of the April 18 meeting of the Estevan Municipal Airport Liaison Committee were presented to council.

Of note, the committee had a presentation from Aaron Elmy of Sharptail Aviation who asked for room to create a larger hangar to hold their plane for their charter service. The minutes noted other groups have also expressed interest in a larger hangar and that Sharptail may be able to join that development.

The minutes also noted the City is continuing to deal with the Provincial Disaster Assistance Program on their claim from last year’s flooding. They are also dealing with high water table issues at the airport.

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In his report, city manager Jim Puffalt provided a list of the upcoming events in Spectra Place.

The Estevan Bruins Celebrity Sportsman’s Dinner will be held in the arena on May 25 while the Hard Knocks MMA will make its return to Estevan on June 1. The Shrine Circus is scheduled for June 6 while the Rotary Lobsterfest is June 8.

The next concert at Spectra Place is Burton Cummings on June 15. Simple Plan is also scheduled to perform in Estevan Aug. 12.

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The Estevan Mercury was awarded the City Page contract for the next three years.

Both The Mercury and Estevan Lifestyles placed bids on the contract and although the Lifestyles tender was lower, city clerk Judy Pilloud recommended The Mercury tender, noting that having both The Mercury and Southeast Trader Express as part of the deal allowed for greater flexibility to get their message out to the public.

In the brief debate that followed, Councillor Roy Ludwig suggested alternating the contract between the two papers.  Councillor Lynn Chipley rebutted Ludwig, pointing out that the public has grown accustomed to looking for the page in The Mercury and Trader.

The motion to go with The Mercury passed 5-1 with Councillor Brian Johnson the lone dissenter.

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Council gave first reading to a bylaw to rezone a parcel of land from an urban holding zone to a commercial shopping centre zone.

The land, which is located behind Walmart, was sold to an Alberta developer earlier this year. As part of the agreement, King Street will be extended to run behind the current businesses in the area to the land in question.

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Council also passed a bylaw amendment regarding property maintenance and nuisance abatement in the city.

Under the bylaw, the definition of a junked vehicle is more clearly defined with an eye towards giving the City power to fine or remove the vehicles which have become something of an epidemic in areas of Estevan.