ESTEVAN - The Concerned Citizens Estevan Sk group has launched a petition, calling for a referendum on the downtown revitalization project that was approved by Estevan city council on Monday night.
The petition says to halt the downtown revitalization, which would occur in the 1100 and 1200 blocks of Fourth Street, and stop city tax increases. To sign, people must be 18 years of age and residents of Estevan. They can only sign once.
The petition says the voters of Estevan should decide whether the downtown revitalization project should proceed.
The federal government is funding $7.5 million of the cost through the PrairiesCan's Canada Coal Transition Initiative Fund. The city will pay $1.5 million for underground improvements on the two blocks.
Alan Dougherty, the co-owner of the Orpheum Theatre on Fourth Street, has been collecting signatures for the Concerned Citizens. He said the petition generated 100 signatures in the first five hours on Wednesday. Then he took it to Westmoreland Mining LLC on Thursday and collected 31 more.
"Piles of people don't agree with it. I personally have a lot of issues with it," said Dougherty, who claims that nobody from the city came to the Orpheum to talk to him.
Dougherty suggested having concrete instead of paving stones, and asked if people know how difficult it is to shovel snow from paving stones.
He also wanted to know if there is money set aside for businesses that will lose income or could be closed when the work is taking place on Fourth Street. He predicted the Orpheum would have to close during the project.
He noted the designs show there would be a kiosk in front of the Orpheum, but he questions if it would create more business for the city.
Dougherty also questioned the ability for the project to meet its budget, and if it's exceeded, then he expects the city would turn to taxpayers.
And he predicted that when the Saskatchewan Assessment of Management Agency carries out its next reassessment in 2027, they would see the improvements that have been made around the business and others on Fourth Street, and increase the taxes.
Tammy Fredrickson, who co-owns Parkway Service on Fifth Street, has had the petition at the business since it was launched. She said improvements are needed in downtown Estevan, but she said they extend beyond two blocks on Fourth Street.
"That money needs to be used for infrastructure. I understand that. It should be spread out where needed, throughout the downtown business area. We've got bad roads, we've got bad sidewalks," said Fredrickson.
She doesn't believe the downtown revitalization project will help with economic development.
Dougherty and Fredrickson said they are not members of the Concerned Citizens, nor are they members of the Downtown Business Association, but Fredrickson said Parkway is part of the Estevan Chamber of Commerce.
"We're not trying to push anybody that you need to believe what I believe. One way or the other, we're wanting people to get informed and get involved. Whatever your decision may be, please stand by that decision."
Fredrickson said there has been a "very positive" response to the petition since it first appeared at the business.
To lead to a referendum, the petition would need to have signatures from 10 per cent of the city's residents. Estevan's population was 10,851 in the 2021 census, so the petition would require more than 1,085 signatures.
Earlier this year, Concerned Citizens released a video on YouTube that criticized the project, claiming it would cost $40 million-$50 million. The initial estimates released two years ago said it would be $33 million.
