ESTEVAN - Estevan city council has finalized the wording that will be used for the non-binding plebiscite on whether to build another arena in the .
The question simply reads: "Would you support the construction of a third indoor ice facility in the city of Estevan?" with yes and no as the answers.
Coun. Tony Sernick brought forward the idea of the vote during the Aug. 19 council meeting. Since that time, city clerk Judy Pilloud and the city's legal team have been working on the question.
Coun. Kirsten Walliser voted against the wording, saying she wanted to see more details in the question.
"I think there are people that would like to be in support of the construction, if it were to be through grants and fundraising," said Walliser.
If they were provided the projected cost in the question, she suggested it might change some people's minds.
Mayor Roy Ludwig said he thought the plebiscite question was great because it was simple and forward with yes or no as the answers.
"The more succinct you can be about it, the better," said Ludwig.
As for including a projected cost, Ludwig said that would be difficult now with supply chain issues.
Coun. Shelly Veroba said she understood Walliser's concerns, but Veroba said the wording has to be very simple, and council needed to approve the question at the meeting if there is to be a plebiscite for the Nov. 13 civic election. The Sept. 23 council meeting would be too late as per the Cities Act.
"I just think this question is a good starting point, because it doesn't hold us to building a third rink," said Veroba.
Even if voters are in favour of third ice surface, that doesn't mean it's guaranteed to happen, Veroba said.
Also during the meeting, city council heard a presentation from Bill Mann with the Bienfait Recreation Board about the city collaborating with the Town of Bienfait on renovations to the Bienfait Memorial Arena so that it could be the principle third rink for the city. SaskToday and next week's edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
