The Estevan Comprehensive School sent out a request which was read at last night's council meeting stating that tey were looking for a reduction in fees for their graduations.
In the original request, the ECS asked the Estevan City Council to drop the proposed rental fee to use Affinity Place from $7800 to $3900 for the next five years, reducing the rate by 50 per cent.
The school asked for the reduction as they say the cost for the entire ceremony is expensed back to the students and families in the graduating class.
As the council looked at the proposal, Councillor Brian Johnson initially put forward a motion to accept the increase, before Councillor Shelly Veroba chimed in.
She stated that a five-year term might not be appropriate for the council, as they usually set agreements to four years in order to not burden the next council with their current agreements.
Councillor Kirsten Walliser then also spoke on the issue, saying that since the graduating class is currently planning the funds they'll need for graduation, the council should pass a motion accepting the $3,900 fee for this year.
However, as the city is discussing fee changes with Bylaw 2024-2087, which discusses fees for most city services, Walliser stated that they should put off any agreements for further years until the bylaw is settled.
An initial motion was put forward to accept the $3,900 request over three years, which failed as it gained only three votes between the five councillors and one mayor who was at the meeting.
A second motion was then put forward to accept the $3,900 amount for the graduation to occur in the summer of 2025, with another contract being made later on once the city had more information in regards to its fee structure.
That motion passed with all in attendance voting for it.