Downtown growth, regional partnerships top mayoral address

“We are seeing a return [on the investment] as it is happening,” he said of the city’s downtown revitalization plans.

He later eased into the lingering issues on the balance sheet the city has been forced to contend with, calling it a “reset year.” He said the city has brought on a multitude of new managers and how council wants the city’s finances to find solid footing.

He attributed much of this city’s financial hurdles to the 2017 provincial budget, which saw massive holes blown in municipal coffers across the province thanks to cuts from the then Wall government in Regina.

Ever since, the city has looked to move away from a long-standing practice of a heavy dependence on land sales to generate revenue and shift to asset management. Members of administration and council have undertaken intense training to transform the way the city looks at civic finance.

“Understanding what levels of service our citizens are expecting, what are we providing and how do we manage our assets to continue to provide that into the future,” Bater said, adding management was tasked with finding $500,000 worth of efficiencies.

But in recent months, the city was hit with more finial pressures, losing $850,000 worth of commercial assessment appeals. Further, service contracts for fire services to the R.M. of North Battleford and Saskatchewan Hospital, totalling around $1.3 million, were lost. This forced the city’s hand to reduce salaries by that amount.

“It is not easy to make up that number,” Bater said. “It is a difficult time for everybody involved but a necessary action to take when a civic government is faced with those enormous financial pressures.”

Beyond the city’s border, Bater said North Battleford is working to enhance relationships with surrounding municipalities and Indigenous communities, adding how the relationship between the city and Chamber of Commerce has been great with extensive dialogue.

“We are all on the same team. We are all on team Battlefords,” he said.

Bater touched on the vast number of community safety initiatives he says are vital to address the social issues that drive crime. He said a municipality cannot address poverty, racism and food security alone, and stressed the importance of aligning all four levels of government in the area.

“If we can’t do that we will not see the kind of change that is needed to get the results that we need,” he said, hinting at a massive announcement on the horizon about a systemic framework that will go beyond individual term limits.

Leslie focused on the recent growth in commercial and industrial development in Battleford, starting with the opening of the new grocery store in the town earlier Thursday morning.

“It is a great day today,” he said, noting ongoing work to develop an urban reserve on 90 acres of land and Westleaf Cannabis’ soon to open production facility.

Leslie said beyond this, talks on developing an eventual truck stop along Highway 16 have been ongoing. The Battleford mayor touted the town’s growing relationships with its Indigenous partners such as working to supply water to Poundmaker to help develop more housing on reserve.

Tourism is front and centre for lawmakers in the town, Leslie said, and preserving the rich history of the town is critical moving forward to develop a tourist hotspot.

“Tourism is how we will grow,” Leslie said. “At times we may have to sacrifice looking at investing in our streets and roads to make sure tourism keeps going forward.”

Downtown growth and sinking modest investment into the area to attract more business is also taking centre stage for the town. Further investment in roads and infrastructure also lay on the horizon for the town.

Adding a public safety officer this year, Leslie said, has been important for the community. He said the town is not looking at enforcement similar to a community safety officer, rather, the focus will remain on public safety and awareness over enforcement.

In an effort to spur development and lot sales, the town discounted lots it owns by 15 per cent and has already made one sale because of it.

“I hope this is a snowball effect and we see more people continuing to invest down the road and chose to build in Battleford,” he said.

Both mayors were asked on what steps each are taking to attract new business into the municipalities during the downturn in the economy.

Bater stressed a need to create an environment that is welcoming and conducive to investment. He said city council and administration are pro-business and again highlighted downtown investment and the return already being realized.

“There is a risk with that and you don’t know if you are going to get the return,” he said. “We have been fortunate we have been getting it and we want to do that throughout the entire city.”

Leslie said the town is working understanding what businesses need and what their expectations are so the town can craft policy to help them stay in the black.

“We are also trying to look for ways to minimize the cost of [being] downtown,” he said, asking the crowd about municipal taxation and if they prefer base taxes or municipal levies.

“The way taxation within a municipality is set up for corporations and industrial entities can be varied. It can either cost you a lot of money if you invest in your business or save you lots of money.”

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tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr

by Tyler Marr

Downtown growth, regional partnerships top mayoral address

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