Here are a few stories to emerge from the May 23 city council meeting in North Battleford:
Battlefords RCMP Inspector John Sutherland gave his detachment’s RCMP report for the month and he reports that stolen vehicles continue to be a problem.
He noted there had been a rash over the last week and a half, and over 25 this month, mainly involving vehicles with keys left in them. They also know a group of “prolific offenders” are responsible and are working hard to track them down and apprehend them, Sutherland said.
In other news from the meeting, council has approved a lease for three parcels of land to Midwest Food Resources. The organization had recently bought out Garry Pattinson’s operation and was looking for a formal agreement from the city for that property as well as two more that they currently lease for their community garden efforts.
Christine Freethy, executive director of Midwest Food Resources addressed council at Tuesday’s meeting. The lease agreement was approved later on in the meeting.
Director of Utilities Stewart Schafer noted that the city’s recent conversion from back alley bins to front street rollout carts for waste collection was featured in the public works publication The Roadrunner. A particular highlight for the city was mention of the reduction of annual waste collected from 392 kg/capita to 188 kg/capita two years after it was implemented.
As expected, an application to allow the city’s lease agreement with Pfeifer Holdings Ltd. to be amended to develop a sidewalk café at 1001 Highway 16 Bypass was approved. That follows up on a recommendation approved at the planning ommittee the previous week.
Council also passed a resolution that the amount of $12,637.44 be remitted to Yipco Holdings Ltd. and Vallyn Holdings Inc. as joint payment for compensation for site remediation of the old city fire hall at 1291-100th Street. This also follows up from the planning committee.
In proclamations, May 21-27 is National Public Works Week, May 28 to June 3 is Saskatchewan Tourism Week and June has been declared Recreation and Parks Month in North Battleford.
The next council meeting is scheduled for June 12.
