Is there a chance to expand what we do with wastewater in Moose Jaw? For about 40 years, our treated effluent has been used by rural farmers as a form of irrigation but changes to the wastewater treatment plant have made that difficult since there was no ability to pump the water away when upgrades were done a few years ago.

A workaround was found but it's costing everyone money so a new contract is being negotiated, but first, council had to give the Baildon Irrigation District three years notice of their intent.

That cancellation of the agreement was approved this month but not without scrutiny from Councillor Brian Swanson who said he raised the issue because he's concerned with the city being involved in rural infrastructure and support, pointing to the municipal airport as another project the city shouldn't be involved in..

Councillor Crystal Froese spoke in favour of cancelling the current agreement because it could lead to new things in the future, depending on how the new agreement looks.

"The important part to me in this motion is that we're going back to the table to renegotiate," said Froese. "I see a lot of potential with this and being able to expand it and there's funding, I believe, available partnerships that we can build with the rural elected officials as well."

"It is a procedural thing that we have to cancel the contract to be able to begin renegotiating."

Members from both sides of the irrigation agreement met behind closed doors earlier this month to discuss their options.