Chamber takes look at 2016 at general meeting

It was a time to reflect on 2016 with the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting on March 30.

Compared to 2015, revenue for the Chamber has dropped by $21,500 in 2016, according to the financial statement.

Chamber Director Brian Loos presented the finance report and pointed out the loss in revenue from the Fall Tradeshow and Sale with a $10,000 difference between 2015 and 2016.

Despite the loss, President Kim Mitchell says that the Humboldt Campground revenue has increased by 33 per cent over the past year with a drop in revenue for the mini-golf course.

The Chamber is currently looking at quotes and grants for steadily replacing the course either a few holes at a time or in its entirety.

The Chamber will also be looking into solving some drainage problems with the campgrounds, says Mitchell.

“In low lying areas we always have water in certain campsites.”

A permanent system that pumps into the city’s sewer system is an option at this point, says Mitchell.

Chamber Vice-President Dan Torwalt says that with the lack of an Executive Director for six months of the past year and the resignation of some board members, it was a challenge for the Chamber.

Torwalt says that Office Manager Colleen Foster stepped up and went above and beyond to make sure everything was taken care of.

“That was our biggest struggle was that there were only six or seven of us...coming into this year we’re really excited because we pretty well have a full board.”

The diversity of the board is something that is exciting to Torwalt because the board hits all aspects of businesses in the community as well as a fairly even split between male and female directors.

Lacking the full board over 2016, Torwalt says that some businesses may have fallen through the cracks.

With eleven members, Torwalt says they can now get out in the community and work on being that voice for local business.

The past year saw eight new businesses join the Chamber. Business retention is going to continue being an important focus for 2017 for the Chamber, says Torwalt.

The biggest concern for local businesses is getting more people stopping into their businesses.

They do not want Humboldt to be just a pass through city as people make their way to Saskatoon.

Getting that message out to local consumers is the first step in creating that local shopping atmosphere and that is going to be a focus for 2017.

Part of that is the continued work on improving the downtown. From a real estate side, Torwalt says the downtown core is a big draw for people who are wanting to live in Humboldt.

Multiple downtown businesses are currently for sale but Torwalt says businesses always come and go.

“People looking at retiring, moving on but it gives opportunity for new people to come in with new ideas.”