Dear Editor
This letter is in regards to the increasing expense of living in the city of North Battleford and also the tax dollars spent last year on our downtown area.
We have now received our most recent utility bill for $425.52, showing a more than 10 per cent increase over our last bill.
We were not alone. Numerous others had the same shock when opening their last utility bill, including our close neighbours and at least three citizens in line ahead of me at City Hall, one of whom was very obviously upset, waiting to pay the city’s utility clerk. Whenever I question city staff about the increases in the utility bill, the only suggestions ever given to me have been to check for a leaking faucet or a running toilet. Don’t tell me we all have leaking faucets or running toilets!
I think I can help them explain the increases. We have to pay for the extensive changes to our downtown area. When they wanted to beautify the downtown, they should have incorporated the concept of it being functional. The intersections in some places are now so narrow that city council should have notified people to sell their larger vehicles and buy horses and buggies. It is frustrating to have to wait for an opposing vehicle to turn the corner before proceeding because there is literally not enough space for two vehicles to be side by side.
It should not have been left to a handful of people to make the decision of spending an enormous amount of taxpayers’ dollars on such a long drawn out project that disrupted businesses and causes congestion and inconvenience for the citizens of North Battleford for months and now I am still confused as to how it has “improved” or “beautified” our city.
I think the residents here have a right to know why these rates are increasing so dramatically. City council needs to realize they are making it increasingly difficult to live in the city. Utilities are increasing, taxes are high compared to other communities and wages stay the same. The city will surely be quick to publicize and take credit for new stores, hotels and theatres going up in our city. I find it difficult to believe there were no tax breaks or grants offered to those companies to come to North Battleford, money that taxpayers are going to have to pay up in the long run.
I hope when the next civic election comes, citizens don’t only look at the new hotel, theatre and store, but look at the price we are all paying now and for many years to come. I also hope that when city council proceeds to “improve” 100th Street this year, they will have learned from their past mistakes on 101st Street.
Gerald Gratton
North Battleford
