Weyburn City Council meeting for the first time in the month of July last night. The hot-button issue was regarding the Traffic Bylaw and some of the proposed changes.

In the second reading of the Bylaw, Councillors discussed the amendment that would see the speed limit on Railway Avenue increase from 40 kilometres an hour to 50. Discussions lasted for over 10 minutes as Councillors debated the controversial change. 

"I don't agree with the Railway Avenue speed limit, I do think it should be brought down to 40. Going 50 kilometres an hour around some of the curves and with people backing out, plus even from 4th Street to Government Road there is a lot of foot traffic that goes across the street to the restaurants and different retail stores," said Councillor Mel Van Betuw.

"There are lots of people that are driving 20 kilometres there when they're supposed to be driving 40. Are we going to put in this bylaw, and I'm asking a hypothetical, that if we want 40 kilometres, then we should say it is a maximum and minimum. We should be charging people that are driving 20 kilometres too," stated Mayor Marcel Roy.

"On Railway Avenue, you're part of the downtown core. If you increase it to what they want to on this study, I cannot support that. I think 40 is plenty, especially from people backing out of the Eye Care Centre. Fifty, if you post that, means 55 or 60, and I cannot accept that," Councillor Dick Michel countered. 

The vote ended in a 3–3 tie and the motion to keep the speed limit at 40 was defeated. However, a third reading of the Bylaw is now necessary and will take place at the next City Council meeting.

"This gives the general public time about the traffic speed situation on Railway Avenue to challenge Council," said Councillor Michel. 

The other controversial topic, the school zone speeds, will also be voted on then. The new Bylaw recommends school zones only be in place from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Other items on Monday night's agenda included a pair of home business that were approved unanimously, and the approval of the purchase of a new Roll Off Truck for the Landfill. 

Director of Finance, Laura Missal, acknowledged the City was on budget for 2019 so far. 

City Manager Matthew Warren noted the two major paving projects currently underway on Government Road and Sims Street are both going well.