The Town of Battleford is donating an empty lot for an upcoming CJNB online auction, in exchange for radio advertising campaigns for the minimum value of the lot, which is $45,000. (File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

In The Chambers

Town donating lot for CJNB auction in exchange for in-kind radio ads

May 5, 2020 | 8:59 AM

A lucky bidder will have a chance to come away with some land to build a new home in an upcoming CJNB online auction.

The Town of Battleford is donating an empty lot for the radio station’s event.

In return the town will receive 1,286 on-air radio ads, each 30 seconds in length to promote the town as a good place to live and start a business, in two different marketing campaigns. The campaigns will run on CJNB, and possibly also on additional local stations. The reach may also be extend to Prince Albert and Melfort as well, based on the proposal.

Mayor Ames Leslie said the offer will help move this serviced lot, attract people to the town and also bring in tax revenue, as an economic development opportunity.

“That 29 Street [site] has been empty for a while,” he said. “Anytime if we can fill a lot and get somebody to build, I think it’s wonderful.”

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The $45,000 appraised value of the lot for tax purposes is equivalent to the total number of radio spots in the offer at a $35 per spot rate.

The lot being donated is zoned R2 – permitted for single-detached, semi-detached, or two-unit homes for the property.

Leslie said CJNB originally approached the town with the idea about donating a lot for the auction.

Council approved administration’s recommendation to donate the land to the CJNB online auction for a minimum price of $45,000, and that a building be erected on the site within a year that meets the residential district zoning bylaw.

According to CAO John Enns-Wind’s report, should the minimum bid be received, then the auction winner would have one year to build the new home.

Whatever money is generated from the auction would belong to the radio station since the town will receive the in-kind advertising.

In the process, the successful bidder would purchase the lot from the town at auction price, and that amount would be forwarded to CJNB.

The lot sale would be promoted on all three North Battleford stations.

The lot available would be listed on the radiobidnow.com website with a description when the auction is running.

It is expected it would potentially be listed in the CJNB June online auction or an alternative date to be determined.

Council members spoke up supporting the project.

Coun. Susan McLean Tady said she thought the proposal was a “great idea.”

—

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow