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Battleford town council notes: TIPPs, trees and ATVs

• The Battleford and District Museum and Heritage Board read letters opposing demolishing the Old St. Vital Church in Battleford, and voted unanimously to leave the church “in present state.
St. Vital old church

• The Battleford and District Museum and Heritage Board read letters opposing demolishing the Old St. Vital Church in Battleford, and voted unanimously to leave the church “in present state.” Battleford town council has yet to make a decision about the church. “Administration is recommending that [the church] be taken down because of the overall state of the building and the cost of repairs,” Mayor Ames Leslie previously told the News-Optimist.

• A pamphlet allowing residents to sign up for the TIPPS program will be mailed out with upcoming utility bills. TIPPS is a property tax payment program allowing ratepayers to pay a projected payment per month via direct debit from the ratepayer’s bank account. It is designed to avoid making a large payment in a single instance. Neither in-year penalties nor discounts apply to those signed up for the TIPPs program.

• The Town will also send letters regarding trimming overgrown foliage.

• According to a report by Chief Administrative Officer John Enns-Wind, the enforcement of rules regarding ATVs is challenging. They have been seen in various parts of town, and can dig up walking trails. Operating ATVs within the Town of Battleford is illegal. Council voted in favour of submitting a resolution to the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association to lobby the provincial government to create a registration process for ATVs.

Mayor Ames Leslie said snowmobiles are plated and licensed, “and we’re basically asking for the same approach with ATVs in the province.”

• Battleford building permit values are at almost $27 million for the year, in large part due to the cannabis grow operation to be completed near Highway 16.