Estevan Mercury - February 20, 2013

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Filmmaker Searching For Al Capone

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St. Mary’s Penny Wars

February 20, 2013

WEDNESDAY

Representatives from each grade pose with their jugs of coins, collected through the school’s Penny Wars fundraiser. Full story can be found on A7. (Submitted photo)

Bruins Clinch Playoff Berth

www.estevanmercury.ca Issue 42

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Spring runoff potential above normal Situation for 2013 runoff very different from 2011 Put the tools away and stop hoarding supplies for ark construction, the spring runoff forecast does not spell doom and gloom. After a dry second half to 2012, the winter precipitation is pushing the expected spring runoff rates in much of Saskatchewan to be above normal. That probably isn’t welcome news to many residents in the southeast who remember the spring flooding in 2011; however, the runoff forecast assembled by the Water Security Agency (WSA) with information as recent as Feb. 1 isn’t

Cornerstone Makes Adjustments

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suggesting anybody should panic yet. In the last half of 2012, there was below normal rainfall for most of the agricultural areas in the province. That could play a significant role come spring. “That left us with relatively dry conditions going into the winter season,� said Patrick Boyle of the WSA. While the spring runoff potential in the southeast is above normal, the area from Moose Jaw to Wynyard and Yorkton could see runoff that is well above normal. If the region experiences average precipitation

over the next couple of months, the current excess will pose less of a problem. Boyle noted that since 2010, a good chunk of provincial funding — $25 million — has gone to flood mitigation efforts. That investment has allowed for the installation of new berms and ditches. “We’re in a different spot from 2010 to 2011 because there is work that has already been done,� said Boyle. “People say, ‘what about 2011?’ Compared to 2011 it is a different situation. In 2011, the snowmelt was handled without any

issues. The flooding from that year was mostly due to well above normal spring and summer rains. Because this year we went into that winter season with a lot those sloughs relatively dry, it’s a different situation. The next few months will give us a better picture of that runoff.� The biggest thing the WSA is monitoring is the snow-water equivalent. “We’re 150 to 200 per cent above normal for snowwater equivalent,� noted Boyle. “That represents how much water would be created if all the snow on

the ground melted.â€? The snow-water equivalent is measured by satellite, though the WSA also took 38 manual snow samples from across the province. The February forecast also includes data of accumulated snowfall from weather stations in Saskatchewan. “It starts to give us the picture of what spring runoff could look like,â€? said Boyle. “Forecasting is a difficult job because we don’t know how much additional snow is going to fall or how quickly it’s going to melt.â€? Dry ⇢ A2

Ludwig calls housing meeting a positive step

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any impediments that might be slowing down development in Estevan. Asked what those impediments are, Ludwig said one example is the need for developers to have a building permit already in place before the province would consider them for grants. “It’s a chicken and egg thing,� Ludwig said. “The developers would rather have the assurance that the grant money is in place beforehand, and I am sure with the good developers we have in place, their word is their bond and I am sure

they would be willing to sign that the building permit is coming in a reasonable timeframe and move forward that way.� Ludwig said having the developers in attendance at last week’s meeting was a positive step as it allowed the province to hear directly from them about some of the barriers they face. “I think it helped the ministry understand some of the situations we have down here. I think it was a winwin meeting, and hopefully coming out of that meeting, we will have a better rap-

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sion and has land available in their plan for multi-family dwellings. They have been working with the City to see what grants are available to facilitate much-needed affordable housing units. Ludwig said the meeting was the latest in a number of sit-downs with Draude as both sides attempt to increase the stock of affordable housing in the City. The mayor said the meeting went well and Draude was responsive to their thoughts and concerns. Ludwig added she also instructed her staff to remove

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As they continue to deal with the lack of affordable housing locally, representatives from the City of Estevan met with the provincial government last week to discuss the situation. Mayor Roy Ludwig, city manager Jim Puffalt and officials from both Trimount Developments and Essex Developments were in Regina Feb. 12 for a meeting with Housing Minister June Draude and her staff. Trimount is the group behind the latest phase of the Dominion Heights subdivi-

port and the ministry will be more willing to work with our developers to make this happen.� Ludwig said the City will continue to work with the province as well as the developers. He added affordable housing is one of the City’s focal points in 2013 and feels they are close to some tangible progress. “Minister Draude said they still have some money available and I would like to think we would be at the forefront in getting those monies for our developers to move forward,� he said.

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