ESTEVAN - The 2024 civic election in Estevan will include a plebiscite on whether a third ice surface should be built in the community.
Coun. Tony Sernick called for the non-binding vote during Monday night's meeting of Estevan city council. While he said several times he is torn on the subject, he noted that after serving on the Estevan Minor Hockey Association's board, there is "no doubt" a need for another arena in Estevan exists.
Sernick proposed the plebiscite to gauge how the voters of Estevan feel about another ice surface. He believes a plebiscite would be a better option than a survey, because the former allows more voters to have their say, and the new council members could use this information as they wish.
"We always hear, how do we increase voter turnout? I feel a question of this nature would increase voter turnout. If you want another arena, get out and vote. If you don't want another arena, get out and vote," said Sernick.
If the vast majority votes no, then the next council won't have to have the conversation.
Coun. Rebecca Foord said she liked the idea of a plebiscite, but she also really liked the idea of an online survey, because there are so many ice users who don't live in the city. A combination of the survey and plebiscite would allow the city to engage everyone.
"I understand that it will be mostly the taxpayers of Estevan that will be funding the proposed rink … but I think we do need to find out if there is a want for the rural customers," said Foord.
Mayor Roy Ludwig said the survey could happen after the next election.
"I think it has to be our community that votes on it if we're going to pay for it," said Ludwig.
Coun. Shelly Veroba stressed there would be a lot of factors for the next council to evaluate, including whether this would be a multi-purpose facility or just a third ice surface. She suggested a survey could help determine the appearance of a potential third ice surface.
"Definitely the next council would have to engage the public to find out what is the need of the community. If the vote comes back that there is an actual desire for a third ice surface, then that's where I think the conversation starts to become what type of surface?" said Veroba.
Coun. Lindsay Clark said factors such as cost would determine how people vote. And Coun. Kirsten Walliser added that people need to know where the money would come from.
City clerk Judy Pilloud said the city will have to work on the wording of the plebiscite question and then send it to legal. The question has to be positive and people can only vote yes or no.
It also has to be approved by council at least eight weeks before the Nov. 13 civic election, so it will be brought back for the Sept. 9 meeting, which is the second-last gathering for the current council.
Estevan has been down to two ice surfaces since the closure of the Civic Auditorium in November 2017; the 60-year-old arena was torn down just over six months later. Since then, many local families have had to travel to rural communities for ice time.
