(Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Budget 2021

City budget deliberations focus includes downtown UPAR in third night of sessions

Dec 10, 2020 | 3:39 PM

The City of North Battleford committee-of-the-whole met again for another deliberation meeting Wednesday night, to continue reviewing the proposed 2021 budget.

Some of the topics discussed included the Underground Pipeline and Asphalt Rehabilitation Program work planned for next year.

Council was concerned the work slated for 102nd Street downtown would impact business, already hurting from the pandemic.

“I wonder if we should be avoiding our business locations for next year in an effort to support those businesses in getting back on their feet financially,” Coun. Kelli Hawtin said.

Administration said the downtown has some of the oldest roads in the city. That’s why this area was prioritized.

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Coun. Greg Lightfoot mentioned some of the downtown infrastructures is over 100 years old in some spots, especially along the road in question.

If the city is diligent in maintaining its underground infrastructure, the City’s Act protects it from liability in case of water or sewage events that can cause businesses or homes to have issues.

“If we do know that there are issues underground and we decide not to fix them for some similar reason as talked about tonight, what can happen is then the city now becomes liable for any major damage to a business or a home along the way because we were not diligent in fixing it or approving jobs to get done in time,” Lightfoot said.

To mitigate the amount of disruption during downtown construction, City Engineer Bob Anthony mentioned in most cases the city is able to work with businesses so the owners can find alternate access for customers to use in the interim.

Another issue discussed was what is known as “bulb-outs” curb extensions at sidewalk corners created in the downtown area. Coun. Bill Ironstand said residents are not happy with them as they can make it difficult for drivers to turn corners.

The city had plans to implement more bulb-outs as part of the 102 Street work. The feature is part of the Downtown Revitalization Master Plan council previously adopted a few years ago. The aim of the bulb-outs design was to make the downtown more pedestrian-friendly and help boost business in the downtown core.

Council members will look at the matter further at an upcoming planning committee meeting.

During the Leisure Services Department presentation among the top asks for 2021 were for the Beaver Lions baseball diamond’s mandatory Sask Power retrofit budgeted at $250,000; the Dekker Centre partial roof replacement at $160,000; and a Zamboni replacement for the Don Ross Arena for $165,000.

Another project proposed was having a study completed on improving accessibility at the Access Communications Centre (Civic Centre), estimated at $70,000.

The City of North Battleford will continue its deliberation sessions on the proposed 2021 budget in another meeting tonight via Zoom.

“We heard from various departments,” Mayor David Gillan said. “Now council wants to discuss their thoughts on what they have heard.”

The meeting is scheduled to start at 6:20 p.m.

Gillan says the session will be an opportunity to see if there is possibly any consensus of opinion on the budget proposal that may be able to be brought forward to the council meeting on Dec. 14.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW