ESTEVAN — Members of Estevan city council have spent the past week refuting claims that the proposed revitalization project for downtown Estevan is going to cost $40 million-$50 million.
A video, posted by an anonymous user to the WTF Estevan Facebook group last week, had a link to the Concern Citizens Estevan Sk's YouTube page. A narrator claims city council has green-lighted the project.
"A concept video created by George Harris Collaborative Inc. shows what the City of Estevan wants to turn our downtown into," the video states.
"They want to take a portion of Fourth Street and the surrounding blocks and turn downtown into a walking street metropolis, with plans for seasonal street patios, windscreen and art features, informational kiosks, as well as replacing parking lots with a central park, complete with beach volleyball courts and running tracks, as well as an entertainment stage, among other amenities."
The YouTube video goes on to say the city has moved into Phase 1 of this project, which has a cost of $8.3 million, and the city has applied for a federal grant of $6.6 million. The narrator goes on to say the city would be required to spend $1.5 million to complete all of the underground water main and sewer utilities for the project.
The federal government committed $750,000 last year for fully detailed engineering bid packages.
The YouTube video also pointed out this is happening when the city has approved a budget with a property tax increase and when Estevan's population is declining.
Comments in the Facebook group varied, ranging from criticism of the project to calls for the money to be spent in other directions, to criticism of the poster for failing to put their name to the post.
The video also said a petition would go out in the near future in an effort to half the project.
Mayor Roy Ludwig said the Concerned Citizens Estevan group is trying to put as bad of a light on the project as possible. He pointed out that the city received about $150,000 from the PrairiesCan fund for design work on downtown enhancements, which was awarded to Harris, and right now the city is looking at Phase 1 of the project.
The city also received $750,000 in federal funding last year to cover the initial engineering design, consultation, bid documentation and procurement tendering.
Ludwig said should they get the federal money for downtown, it would look great upon completion.
"Although they seem very optimistic that we're going to get the $6.5 million to get the project [moving forward], we still to date have not got the money. Nothing further will be going ahead until we get the $6.5 million," said Ludwig.
He also pointed out the underground infrastructure in the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Fourth Street needs to be replaced eventually.
"Everything will be laid bare, so of course there would be a great opportunity at cost savings for us to replace the aging underground [infrastructure]," said Ludwig.
He noted the sewer and the water mains are stacked above each other in those blocks, which is no longer viewed as a good practice.
As for whether other phases could be completed, Ludwig said that would be up to future councils.
Ludwig believes council remains on board with the project, and the city has received positive feedback from the downtown businesses.
Coun. Travis Frank said the video was filled with "many misleading and false claims about the project" that he'd like to clear up so that members of the community can be properly educated on the subject and form informed opinions.
He pointed out that the video on George Harris Collaborative Inc. had been viewed many times, contrary to Concerned Citizens' claims, and council has been open and transparent about the project.
"Numerous public forums, including one at a city-wide registration, online surveys and consultations have happened. Recently, each and every business on Fourth Street was contacted directly about the project one by one," said Frank.
Many members of the community came together to discuss ideas and designs which eventually led to the final design.
Coun. Kirsten Walliser said on her Facebook page that council and administration have been hard at work soliciting feedback, and gaining clarity and insights about downtown revitalization since 2021. She added she'd be happy to provide details or answer questions about both the project and the process.
Ludwig said he believes people are feeling overwhelmed and in perpetual crisis mode amid post-pandemic life, trucker protests, inflation, high food costs, mental health issues, addictions, homelessness, and housing and rental increases.
"The use of misinformation and personal attacks is becoming more common on social media, which makes it harder to find common ground. The debate on climate change is making people more anxious," said Ludwig.
"The growing distrust of media and democratic institutions is dividing and polarizing proper discourse. Some people and groups have lost sight of how fortunate we are to live in a safe and democratic country.
"We don't live in a perfect world, but it is important that we try to contribute to our community in a positive and meaningful way. We should be able to have public discourse and debate controversial issues in a civil manner."
