North Battleford City Council passed a bylaw approving mail-in balloting for the fall municipal election at a regular council meeting Monday.
This is being done to accommodate those who will be away during the election period or due to work commitments. It is one of various changes being proposed for the upcoming vote. Among the other proposals was a possible campaign spending and disclosure bylaw, but that is still up in the air at the moment.
Council also approved a bylaw amendment to the business licensing bylaw governing special sales events involving vehicles, agricultural equipment, recreational vehicles, boats and other watercraft. Included is a significant discount to businesses that operate locally.
Sgt. Neil Tremblay of Battlefords RCMP detachment provided the monthly RCMP report and statistical report for May 2016. Crime was up in several categories for the month, including in person offences, break and enters, property offences, liquor act violations, provincial traffic offences and impaired operation of motor vehicles.
But criminal code offences were down slightly and there was a steep drop in drug offences. Total calls for service were up from 1,182 to 1,263.
Tremblay’s report also noted policing statistics for the second quarter will be presented during the next reporting period, and that council “shouldn’t be surprised” to see an increase in numbers. Targeted enforcement of criminal groups continues.
Councillor Ryan Bater asked administration why nothing had been posted on the City’s website about council attendance since January of 2015.
A bylaw is in place requiring council attendances to be posted on the website. City Manager Jim Puffalt responded it was an “oversight” due to the changing of communications managers, and that it would be addressed.
Also at the meeting, council approved a half mast flag policy, which sets out exactly what the protocol should be in such situations.
The council meeting schedule now goes into its summer format, with regular meetings reduced to one per month in July and August. No committee meetings are scheduled for those months, with all committee business rescheduled to regular council meeting days during that time.
The next meeting of council is July 18.
