Town of Battleford mayor’s 2015 year in review

Happy new year.

The year 2015 has been an exciting and eventful year in the town of Battleford. Our 111th year has brought many positive developments, successful agreements and many memories including the RCMP Musical Ride at Fort Battleford.

We must acknowledge the significant investment of corporations and individuals who continued to invest in the growth of Battleford over the past year. Building permit totals for the year reached $7,877,410 which included 14 new homes and numerous renovations contributing  to the 47 building permits.

Commercial and residential land development continues in the town. Battle West Properties, Battleford Town Square, Riverbend Properties, Kramer Ltd. and numbered companies are marketing large pieces of land to interested parties. The Town-owned Battle Springs subdivision continues to develop and a number of families have chosen this area as their home. The official community plan and zoning bylaws are under review with the final amendments being presented in 2016.

Construction work is ongoing at the Kramer Campground shower and washroom facility.  The highway commercial sewage pumping station, the Battle Springs final stage of lot grading along with the 23rd Street storm sewer have been completed. The Town Hall boiler system was replaced along with the lower and main floor windows. The Second Avenue paving project, curb and gutter replacement upgrade will continue and a number of sidewalks are to be addressed in 2016. The final stage of concrete rehabilitation work on the old bridge support structures was completed under a cost-sharing partnership with the Battlefords River Valley Authority. Capital purchases have seen the arrival of a new garbage truck and fire pumper Number 1.  Phase 1 and 2 of the grave relocation project at the Battleford Cemetery was completed in a professional and respectful manner by Eternal Memories Funeral Service and Crematorium. Work on this project will continue in 2016. 

On behalf of the members of Council, we would like to acknowledge the work of all the Town staff. We wish Sheryl Ballendine, Randy Redding and Kevin Chaykowski all the best in their retirement. As we bring in the New Year we welcome the leadership team of John Enns-Wind as chief administrative officer, Conrad Olson as assistant administrator, Noreen Hoffart as confidential secretary,  Jordan Schechtel  as Parks and Recreation Superintendant, as well as Eric Bilanski in Public Works and Aubrey Whittleton in Utilities. Fire Chief Larry Gabruch, Geoff Thompson and all the volunteer firefighters along with members of the RCMP led by Insp. John Sutherland keep our community safe and make Battleford a great place to call home.

I would like to thank the members of council, Shelley Boutin-Gervais, David George, Doug Laing, Ames Leslie, Susan McLean Tady and Gordon Yarde for their guidance, wisdom, experience and dedication to the Town of Battleford.

Thank you to all the residents for the support during 2015.  We all look forward to the continued growth and to a strong and vibrant Battleford in 2016.  I wish you a happy new year and all the best.

Sincerely

Mayor Derek Mahon

Town of Battleford