Here are some highlights from the Nov. 20 Battleford council meeting:
Council hopes to have a new grader purchased before the new year. Council agreed during the Oct. 16 meeting to authorize the purchase of a new grader not to exceed $300,000. Mayor Ames Leslie said the price of the new grader wasn’t available before the time of publication. Town policy is to replace all equipment, whether it’s trucks or heavy equipment, on a 10-year cycle, Leslie said. A grader that’s almost 10 years old and a sand truck with a blade currently clear Battleford’s streets. The current grader will be traded in an effort to reduce costs.
Battleford’s October water usage decreased almost by half from September. Councillor Doug Laing said it is in part because residents have stopped watering their lawns, and because the pipeline has been discontinued to the city.
The town asks residents to not push snow out onto the street. Special Constable Geoff Thompson said some cul-de-sacs in particular haven’t been compliant. Town bylaws allow for fines to be issued.
Council passed the document Strategic Plan 2017-2020. The plan is intended to guide council’s decisions and to ensure council’s objectives are met. The five-page document lists values including fiscal responsibility, transparency, business friendliness, communication, engaged community, and governance. Strategic priorities include safety, sustainable infrastructure, organizational effectiveness, economic development, and quality of life.
North Battleford city councillor Kent Lindgren wrote a letter asking the town to pass a proclamation marking Dec. 1 as World AIDS Day, and Dec. 1-5 as Aboriginal AIDS Awareness Day. Council passed the proclamations.
Council passed a motion to buy a few signs warning residents that verbal and physical abuse of staff won’t be tolerated.
