By Greg Higgins

City is practically giving away antique decorations

Feb 24, 2017 | 4:00 PM

The city is offering the deal of a lifetime to antique collectors, Christmas aficionados or just people who would love to own a piece of North Battleford history, as the old city Christmas decorations are being sold at a major discount.

The city moved on from the old decorations last Christmas, which are now sitting at the airport compound waiting for a home.

According to Tim Yeman, forestry operations foreman for North Battleford, the city will pretty much take any offer they get.

“We have to dispose of them,” Yeman said. “We have actually moved to more environmental friendly decorations with LED lights. These decorations, even though they’ve been great at servicing us over the years, it’s just time to let them go.”

Yeman said a nominal amount of money would do, as the city isn’t really in a position to refuse offers.

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According to the foreman, the decorations range in condition from poor to very good and there is a variety. The candle decorations are in decent condition while the snowflakes and bells are more presentable.

The decorations range in height from four to six feet and weigh anywhere from eight to 14 pounds.

Yeman said the city hasn’t had much luck selling them privately.   

“We tried North Battleford Buy and Sell but it is just about hitting the right people at the right time,” Yeman said. “They’d be great for somebody’s yard. They’d be great for a township that doesn’t have the ability to go out and purchase lights right now. It could add a little bit of flare to their community during the Christmas season.”

For those who have lived in the city a while, these are the decorations which were hung on the light posts between 100 St. And 102nd St. Yeman said there are 100 to 140 total decorations sitting at the airport in the open and are starting to weather. If the antiques cannot be moved they will be dismantled and recycled.

As for the new decorations, they were on display last Christmas with the exception of the ones on Carlton Trail. The city had partnered up with a business to bring in decorations from overseas which were delayed.

“Unfortunately those decorations were tied up on a ship that was flagged by the boarder protection agency,” Yeman said laughing. “Everything on the ship had to be inspected so there was a delay on getting the decorations to the city this year. We have them in storage now and they’ll be good to go for this season.”

Yeman said the city wasn’t informed of exactly what the ship was suspected of carrying and added it could have been anything from drugs to pesticides.

Greg.higgins@jpbg.ca

On Twitter @realgreghiggins.