It's a question many have been asking, and it was answered on Monday night. 

It was at long last a return to Council Chambers for the most recent regular meeting of Weyburn City Council. Councillor Dick Michel was in the big chair for the night, as he is the Deputy Mayor for the months of May and June.

During the meeting, the City's Engineering Director Jennifer Wilkinson addressed the current issue of the 'earthy' smell in the Weyburn water supply.

She said it happens every year, and is a bi-product of the contaminant removal process, adding that the water is tested daily, and it is safe to drink, even though it doesn't taste or smell so great. The effect should dissipate soon. 

Wilkinson also noted that the City of Weyburn's annual Hazardous Waste Day saw a total of 212 vehicles come through, which she noted was higher than in recent years.

Council approved the Weyburn Comprehensive School Graduation Committee's requested permisison to display fireworks on City property this weekend. The request was made via Fire Chief Simon Almond, and it is the first time someone has come forward for a display fireworks permit since the creation of the bylaw.

JJ's Trucking was chosen out of 10 proposals to handle the management of the 11,700 tons of contaminated soils during the excavation for the construction of the new fleet storage facility. The contaminants are polycyclic aromatic haydrocarbons, which will have to go to a designated landfill site, as the capability of removing the contaminants is not available in Weyburn.

Development Director for Envision Counselling and Support Centre, Tania Andrist, spoke before Council requesting a sponsorship from the City of $1,000 a year for five years in support of their organization.

Andrist noted they are hoping to create a network of communities in the area, with the City of Weyburn's goals being similar to Envision's, that it's all about taking care of the people of Weyburn.

She also emphasized mental health and wellness is such a critical issue right now, given that since start of pandemic, there has been an increase in request for services by 30 per cent.

It was concluded by Deputy Mayor Dick Michel that it will be added as a 2022 budget line, as the budget for 2021 has already been set for the year.

Deputy Mayor Michel also proclaimed this week as Recreation & Parks month in the City of Weyburn.

-with notes from Steven Wilson.