(File photo/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Planning ahead

City to hire public relations/intergovernmental manager to fill need

Sep 15, 2020 | 10:10 AM

The City of North Battleford plans to hire a public relations/intergovernmental manager to promote the city and advocate for its needs.

Administration identified the need for the position for a number of reasons. The new role would help boost business and economic development during a difficult time in the economy overall from the impact of COVID-19. It will also work to improve the city’s public image which has been a stumbling block for the city as it works to reach its goals.

“COVID is a new problem, but even before the pandemic the city had an image issue, especially online,” City Manager Randy Patrick said in his report, on the need for the new role to project a positive image for the city.

The position will also work with various levels of government, including the regional partners in the Sacichawasihc Relationship Agreement – the town and area First Nations governments, and the newly formed Battlefords Regional Community Coalition.

“What this position is really is an investment in that process,” Mayor Ryan Bater said. “It’s actually allocating resources to the maintenance of and the development of those regional relationships as well as our relationship with senior orders of government.”

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Council approved the new role as recommended by administration in a resolution at its meeting Monday night.

There will not be any additional cost to the taxpayer for the position.

The new position will be supported by moving funding from two vacant city positions that are being eliminated. The city will use the funding from the recreation programming position and a portion of a junior civil technologist position. Any remaining funds will be reallocated to the city’s corporate services and planning operational budget.

The new position would report to the city manager’s office as it has considerable dealings with both the city manager as well as the mayor and council.

Coun. Kent Lindgren was among the councillors who spoke in support of creating the new public relations/intergovernmental manager role.

He said funding allocations based on a per capita formula do not always meet the city’s needs as a regional hub, an issue that could be addressed with other levels of government through the new position.

“Sometimes a smaller urban city and urban centre has a hard time making the noise sometimes we need to do. I’m hopeful this will enable us to do that,” Lindgren said.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow