With the March 30 deadline come and gone for Westgate Properties, the City of Regina is getting ready to backfill the hole sitting at the corner of Victoria Avenue and Albert Street.

An appeal board ruled Westgate Properties had until the end of March to backfill the hole. Once that deadline passed, the city could act on behalf of the company.

The city has put out a request for proposals, with a deadline of April 11.

Mayor Michael Fougere was on with 980 CJME’s John Gormley on Tuesday and was asked by a caller about who would be paying for the work that needs to be done.

“The intent is that the owner of the property will pay for the filling of the hole; that is our intent. It will be put on their property taxes and as this goes through the courts, we have the first payment of anyone else,” Fougere said.

But he did say if the company was unable to pay, it would then be up to the city and the taxpayers.

“We have a public safety issue here,” Fougere said. “This site is unsafe, it has to be taken care of.”

He said the hope is that work will begin by the end of the month.