Town of Battleford council at Tuesday's meeting. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Three-year abatement granted

Town welcomes new lumber business to area

Sep 21, 2022 | 4:58 PM

The Town of Battleford is granting a three-year tax abatement to a new business coming to the community.

ABMT Wood Solutions Ltd., based in Saskatoon, is looking at opening a location in the town’s commercial-industrial area in the future.

The facility is primarily focused on reclaiming and repurposing prime lumber. They are also a wood timber products business.

Mayor Ames Leslie said the company is looking to buy a currently vacant business site within the town for their operation.

ABMT submitted a proposal to the town for consideration as part of their plans to come here.

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The company requested a five-year tax abatement. The business also asked for a first right of refusal agreement for town-owned land adjacent to or in the industrial area where they are looking to purchase property. They also asked to have a community policing plan and commitment to provide protection for the commercial property and neighbourhood where the site will be located.

CAO Ash Alam said the town welcomes the new business.

“This proposal is very exciting news for Battleford,” he said, adding that it’s good to see the company chose the town to open a location.

In addressing the business’ requests, Alam said the town’s current incentive policy for municipal tax abatement is for a three-year period not five. Administration recommended adhering to this policy as part of the town’s Commercial-Industrial-Incentive Program.

For the company’s proposal for a first right of refusal agreement, Alam noted the town is not able to accommodate this request.

“The town may not consider having a first right of refusal agreement with a business as the town will be open to all business equally,” he said. “The town should have the right to reserve who to sell their own property at market value.”

On the request for a police protection plan, Alam said the town currently has a shared policing contract and has no control over policing schedule.

Town council voted in favour of administration’s recommendation to grant the company a three-year tax abatement.

Coun. Shelley Boutin-Gervais said the town should stick with its three-year abatement and perhaps look at whether or not to extend it further down the road if necessary.

“As for now, I think we need to follow our current policy,” she said.

Coun. Judy Pruden said it was exciting to have the company coming to the town, starting with 20 employees, and investing in a building within the community.

Coun. David George said the company indicated they could potentially bring up to 150 people to be employed here eventually.

“It will probably be a little bit of a boon for our community, housing and everything else, which is a good thing,” he said.

Mayor Leslie said the Battlefords Citizens on Patrol Program volunteers may be able to do extra patrols in the area if there is any concern about protection.

“We can give them some assurance that our public safety officer can do the tours during the day when he is out and about,” he added.

Leslie noted he is looking forward to having the new business in Battleford.

“I’m excited to have a business, especially on the manufacturing side,” he said. “It would be nice to have something of that nature again in our community.”

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW