Estevan Mayor Roy Ludwig delivered the annual State of the City Address to the Estevan Chamber of Commerce during the Chamber's monthly meeting on February 13.

Ludwig discussed some of the issues facing the City, particularly housing and beautification.

He noted that he and other representatives from the City recently met with Housing Minister June Draude, and that Draude wants to see solutions for Estevan's affordable housing crunch.

He is pleased that Trimount Developments is working on the latest phase of the Dominion Heights subdivision, and he looks forward to Essex Developments beginning work on a new subdivision in the northwest corner of the city.

The City has also been working on a housing plan.

On the infrastructure front, work is expected to be completed in the spring on the new $8.5 million water treatment plant for the northern half of the city. Money is also being spent on upgrades for the Waste Water Treatment Plant.

A rebuild of Kensington Avenue North is expected to start this year. Wellock Road will be extended to Sister Roddy Road. Underground works will continue on Sixth Street. And progress continues to be made on the truck route north of the city, although Ludwig is concerned about the speculation that it could become a full Highway 39 bypass around Estevan, as opposed to just a truck route.

Other topics covered by Ludwig included curbside recycling, residential waste collection, collective bargaining agreements for the City's employees and the Estevan Police Service, and beautification projects such as paving the parking lot for the Souris Valley Aquatic and Leisure Centre/Spectra Place.

Other highlights from the meeting:

*The deadline to submit a nomination for the Estevan Business Excellence Awards is April 15. Awards will be handed out in several different categories.

*The Chamber received six nominations to serve on the board of directors, so an election will be needed.

*Twyla Senchuk is the organization's new first vice-president.

*The Chamber's annual general meeting will be March 20 at the Days Inn Plaza. They are still looking for a guest speaker.

*The next monthly meeting will be March 13. Woodlawn Regional Park manager Nathan Puffalt will be the guest speaker.