Here are some other items of note from the May 8 meeting of city council in North Battleford:
The findings are in from a compliance audit conducted by the Water Security Agency during the week of March 21, covering the city’s water treatment plants and records there.
While there were no findings in the audit report of serious non-compliance that required immediate attention, there were some items that needed to be addressed.
There were two findings of “non-compliance posing a non-immediate threat” to health or safety, and 12 findings of “non-compliance that do not pose a significant threat” to health or safety.
On a more positive note, there were also two findings of compliance that exceeded the minimum standands and therefore deserved special mention.
According to city manager Jim Puffalt, most of these audit findings involved record keeping and housekeeping issues which are “easily correctable,” he said.
Puffalt also added the major issues of providing good quality water are being met. Administration intends to work with the water treatment plant foreman and operators to address the issues that were found in the audit, and the corrective plans will be submitted within 30 days.
In another water-related item, it was confirmed by director of utilities Stewart Schafer that the water flushing program was under way. Flushing of the lines started Monday and will run 8 pm to 8 am. Schafer also noted the importance of the program. If it weren’t done, then every time a fire hydrant was opened or a water line broke, “you would see your water become very turpid.” In other words, discolored. It would take several hours or sometimes even a day before that turpidity settles down, Schafer said.
In other items, City administration thanked all the volunteers and staff for participating in the April 20 Earth Day city cleanup. In a report to council from the city manager, almost 2,000 kg of litter was picked up -- that amounts to almost 800 bags of garbage.
City manager Puffalt added there was “no reason” for people throwing garbage out their windows into the streets or on the highways.
The good news is that the litter collected on Earth Day has been declining over the years: roughly double the amount of litter had been picked up in 2015. Puffalt says they will be doing the city cleanup again next year, which would be their 5th anniversary of this city-led effort.
Council also considered an application from North Battleford classical musician Cole Knutson for grant money to assist him with travel to a performance at Carnegie Hall in New York as well as at the Franz Schubert Institute in Austria.
The direction from council was that the existing policy be followed, which means Knutson will qualify for grants of $100 for each trip, for a total of $200.
In announcements, Mayor Ryan Bater promoted Block Party Weekend June 9-11. Neighbours and friends are encouraged to host a block party that particular weekend.
There are also information sessions on block parties at the Don Ross Centre and the next one is May 17 from 5:30 to 7pm.
Finally on Monday night, the issue of parking on the 1600 block of 95th Street came up.
The issue was prompted by a parking infraction from a resident who had believed they were able to angle park on the street. Council had to decide whether to allow angle parking on the street, something residents had sought for the street before, or to maintain parallel parking there.
The recommendation from administration was the latter. But after hearing from a couple of residents of the street, council was swayed in favor of angle parking on the residential side, as residents stated the angle parking was the safer and more convenient way to go on that particular street.
Council voted in favor of a motion from coun. Kelli Hawtin to allow nose-in parking on the residential side of the block, and to not allow any parking on the east and north sides of the block.
Finally, there were two proclamations: May 8-14 as Naturopathic Medicine Week, and May 15-19 as Sexual Assault Awareness Week in the City of North Battleford.
The next regular council meeting is scheduled for May 23.
