North Battleford council has voted to waive street closure fees for the recent provincial legion convention.
The decision was made at Tuesday night's council meeting in North Battleford and puts an end to an issue that has simmered since the previous meeting.
The issue revolved around the closure of streets to accommodate a provincial legion parade Oct. 19, marking the start of their provincial convention. The legion delegates marched down 100th Street and made their way down to John Paul II Collegiate for opening ceremonies.
City workers set up barricades and the costs of closing the streets totaled $416.16. Legion Branch No. 70 sought a waiver of those fees and costs associated with the street closure, but ran into trouble from city administration officials who recommended that request be denied.
That recommendation was up for discussion at the Oct. 28 council meeting, when councillors considered a resolution that the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 70's request that fees and costs associated with the street closure be denied.
It was clear council was never enthusiastic about administration's recommendation from the outset.
Instead of voting to deny the Legion waiver request Oct. 28, council requested more information and tabled the original resolution to the next meeting.
After council received a further memo on the subject from Public Works Director Stewart Schafer at Tuesday's meeting, council swiftly rejected the resolution to deny the fee waiver in a unanimous 6-0 vote Tuesday.
Councillor Don Buglas then moved a new resolution, changing the wording of original resolution from "denied" to "approved."
Mayor Ian Hamilton said afterward it had always been the intent to grant the Legion's request.
