North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater reflects on some of the city's achievements as well as its challenges over the past year. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Time to reflect

NB mayor says city making great strides, still has more work to do

Dec 30, 2019 | 2:18 PM

In taking time to reflect on the past year, North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater said the city has seen a number of successes but also some challenges it still needs to overcome.

Among the city’s many positive moments are the signing the Sacichawasihc Relationship Agreement and the further development of downtown North Battleford.

Five regional First Nation governments, the City of North Battleford and Town of Battleford signed the Sacichawasihc Relationship Agreement June 21 that establishes a foundation for the communities to participate in co-operative government-to-government relationships.

The First Nation communities signing on include the Moosomin, Sweetgrass, Saulteaux and Little Pine First Nation, and the Lucky Man Cree Nation.

The agreement provides a regional community framework so its partners can work collaboratively for the socio-economic benefit and vibrancy of the region.

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“This is a ground-breaking development,” Bater said. “It is a vehicle through which two urban municipalities and five Indigenous governments will work together to address our shared challenges, and build on our shared successes. It’s the first time there has ever been a formalized agreement within the region.”

He said it’s an exciting time as the partners start to develop their relationships and “identify ways we can work together in a meaningful way.”

Another big success the mayor is proud to see is the continued development in downtown North Battleford.

“Downtown is chic again,” he said. “We’ve had 15 new businesses relocate or open there in the last couple of years… It’s been a real success story.”

Bater mentioned some of the new businesses development, including the Giant Tiger store and the Capitol Annex Theatre, has generated more traffic in the city’s core.

“We’re seeing a lot more activity and more hum,” Bater said. “Downtown is becoming a source of pride for everybody within the region.”

When looking at the city’s struggles over the past year, the mayor cites crime as a significant concern.

“It’s obviously an ongoing challenge,” Bater said.

There were several homicide investigations in the Battlefords in 2019 which Bater said will have a dramatic impact on the Crime Severity Index for 2019.

There were a number of reports of shootings in the last several months as well, which the mayor said seems to suggest there is more activity within criminal organizations and the drug trade in the area.

Bater said the ongoing challenge is one that needs to be addressed through the city’s regional partnerships as well as with the provincial government.

“It’s something that is the highest priority of the city,” he said.

While the RCMP’s work is making a difference, Bater said “we still have a lot of work as a community” to address the problem.

Another struggle for the city has been dealing with financial challenges in 2019.

Commercial assessment appeals were a big cost to the city, as one issue of concern.

“It meant in addition to our pre-existing challenges, we had an additional challenge of a loss of $850,000,” Bater said. “For a municipality of our size that was an incredible challenge to overcome.”

The city had to make some hard decisions throughout the year to reduce costs.

“The good news is that those difficult decisions were made,” the mayor said. “The operations of the city are now under control now that we have gone through the budget of 2020.”

The city is also developing some long-term strategic plans to address its capital needs for the future.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW