It was a different setting for Mayor Ryan Bater to give a State of the City address than in previous years.
Just months after giving his first State of the City presentation in front of a luncheon audience at the Tropical Inn, this time Bater was giving his address from City Hall, shared with his audience electronically on the ZOOM platform.
His address on Wednesday served as an update on the city’s activities since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, which happened about a week after his first address.
Bater’s remarks included updates on city projects such as the trunk main twinning and road and undergrounds projects, impacts the pandemic has had on finances, staffing and operations, and other initiatives. But there were updates on other ongoing initiatives such as the annexation from the R.M. of North Battleford of former Crown land around Saskatchewan Hospital, as well as the Sacichawasich Relationship Agreement with five neighbouring First Nations.
Here are some of the highlights from Bater’s State of the City 2.0:
Green Fund approval
Mayor Ryan Bater had some big news to announce early on in his address. He announced the city’s application to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Fund had just been approved towards a feasibility study to look at energy consumption at five municipal facilities.
The announcement had been made by the federal government just an hour before his address.
“The goal of this feasibility study is to investigate energy savings and the possibility of generating renewable energy,” said Bater. “We hope to reduce operating expenses, reduce our carbon footprint, and create greater efficiencies.”
The five municipal facilities included in the study will be the wastewater treatment plant, Battleford’s Co-op Aquatic Centre, Nations West Field House (a sports complex), Northland Power Curling Rink, and the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts.
The approval means the study, which costs $361,000, will go ahead. Half will be funded by the FCM Green Fund and the other half by the gas tax.
Montana’s
There was some news about some projects starting this year in North Battleford: construction has finally started on the long-talked-about Montana’s restaurant on Carlton Trail. Bater said the plan was to open in the fall.
Bater noted that there was $6 million in building permit values in North Battleford to this point. “Considering everything going on this year, that’s a very strong number.”
Road and underground projects
There is more construction work coming to 100th Street between 12th and 14th Avenues this year. The underground work will begin July 2 and the road work Aug. 10. The project is planned to be completed Sept. 26.
The 1200 and 1300 blocks will be closed to traffic during that time but there will be pedestrian access to businesses from the back alley, said Bater.
Underground utility work is also under way at Carlton Trail and Yellow Sky Drive (immediately east of Walmart). Roadway construction is planned to be completed by July 25.
Bater also spoke of the rehabilitation work planned for this year on the 100th Street service road in the north end, a project that they've applied for funding under the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program.
Bater also pointed to work that will happen this year on the final phase to repave the main runway of Cameron McIntosh Airport; the project is going ahead with matching funding from the Community Airports Partnership program. Once they get the official letter of approval they can start the project, said Bater.
The full video of Bater's State of the City 2.0 address can be found at the city's YouTube channel at this link: https://youtu.be/t-DL-tOeMQk .
