Here is a rundown of a number of items that came up for discussion at Monday night’s council meeting in North Battleford:
Herb Sutton is staying on as Community Safety Coordinator and getting a raise. His new contract came up for discussion at Monday’s meeting and was unanimously approved by council. The contract includes a rate per day increase to $320 followed by five per cent increases in 2019 and 2020. The contract is also 50 per cent funded by the RCMP.
City manager Jim Puffalt said the contract was bumped up to reflect the “tremendous amount of work” Sutton is doing.
“It’s a hugely important contract for the work that we’re doing in the community and in developing relationships and working with neighbours, and trying to move towards root causes of community safety,” said Puffalt.
Sutton’s contract will extend to the end of 2020.
On a related note, the city’s block parties program is coming back in 2018. Council has agreed to once again waive the $25 block party permit fee, and also incorporate the street mural program as an optional part of hosting a block party.
The Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design committee had been spearheading this effort, which is seen as a way for people to get to know their neighbours. Street mural painting events took place for the first time last year in Fairview Heights and on 95th Street.
Unfortunately, it looks like those will have to be repainted soon. Mayor Ryan Bater noted the snow and water have “taken a toll” on the street murals, and he called it “difficult to see.”
The city also discussed plans for a pop-up open house happening on Wednesday, March 21, between 4 and 7 p.m. at the Civic Centre. The event will have information on various city initiatives including formalizing neighbourhoods, Eyes that Care, block parties, Citizens On Patrol, downtown revitalization and other initiatives.
On a different topic, the city has decided to sell off the 150 mm high density poluethylene waterline used to supply water from the Town of Battleford to the city during the oil spill crisis in 2016 and 2017. The line was decommissioned in 2017 and after much discussion it was decided to sell the pipe. Council has approved selling the pipe to Lakeview Colony for a price of $1.60 per metre.
Council has also approved partnering with Saskatchewan Association for Resource Recovery Corp. (SARRC) and Cleanfarms, for an EcoCentre to accept used oil, filters, containers. The EcoCentre would be located at the Waste Management Facility, with the containment building provided by SAARC; in return the city would provide the employees and basic materials to operate the centre.
The move is expected to generate revenues of $9,000 annually and it was approved by council unanimously.
Council has also approved purchase of an advanced sewer camera for televising sewer line, for use in undergrounds projects. The cost came in at $116,676.68 and administration expects annual cost savings from the equipment of around $100,000.
A jackhammer attachment purchase was also approved for digging up caskets in the cemetery. The cost is $15,800 and it would be paid for through recent savings in capital purchases.
There were 10 people nominated for the monthly Snow Angel nominations for February; the winner of the $50 gift card draw is Taylor Hart.
Gord Krismer and Associates has once again been appointed again as 2018 Board of Revision.
In appointments, the following have been appointed to serve on the North Battleford Library Board, with terms running to Dec. 31, 2018: Betty Leslie, Phyllis Downs, Grace Lang, Cindy How, Barb O’Neal, and Karen Richardson.
Finally in proclamations: Mayor Ryan Bater has proclaimed World Plumbing Day on March 11, March 5-9 as Impaired Driving Awareness Week, and March 12-17 as Francophonie Week. A flag raising for Francophonie Week took place at City Hall earlier on Monday.
The next council meeting is scheduled for March 26.
