Here are some highlights from the Dec. 10 meeting of North Battleford city council. It was the final regularly scheduled meeting of 2018 and also the last one to be held at 8 pm. Council will start meetings at 6:15 pm beginning in the new year.
Council has approved a lease agreement for another five years with the Battlefords Agricultural Society. The agreement is effective Nov. 1 2018 running to Oct 31, 2023. Normally, the lease has been renewed on a two-year basis for the nominal amount of one dollar. In this case the Ag Society had requested the extension, said city manager Randy Patrick, to provide them with more certainty. The resolution authorizing the lease agreement was carried.
The city will be hosting another convention next year. It was confirmed that the Saskatchewan Professional Planners Institute conference is coming to the Battlefords next fall. It will be the first time the conference is held in the Battlefords and approximately 300 people are expected.
Council approved a resolution to begin developing an asset management implementation plan, and also to bring it back to Council for approval prior to March 31, 2019. The idea is to move the city towards a more sustained asset management approach that, according to a city memo from Director of Finance Steve Brown, will lead to improved infrastructure services in the long term.
Council also voted in favor of entering a short-term contract with Tim Furlong to provide property taxation assistance. His duties will include reviewing the city’s property tax operations.
To meet Occupational Health and Safety regulations, some renovations are coming to the public works building to restructure the building’s lunchroom, change room and parts room, with the change room moving to the second floor and the parts room moving to the shop floor. The estimated cost will be $20,000 and council has voted unanimously in favor.
There were 12 people nominated in the Snow Angel program for November; all were entered into a draw for a $50 VISA gift card and the winner this month is Chris Nolin.
In proclamations, Mayor Ryan Bater has proclaimed Tuesdays from Jan. 8 to Feb. 26, 2019 as “Better Together Tuesdays,” which is part of the Better Together youth initiative happening in the community.
Finally, a resolution was passed to cancel next week’s scheduled Planning Committee meeting. In his closing remarks Mayor Bater wished residents a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
