Town council at this week's meeting. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Battle River Archers

Town supports archery club’s five-year lease proposal

Jan 27, 2023 | 1:17 PM

The Battle River Archers Club will be staying in place for the immediate future.

The Town of Battleford council approved the organization’s new extended lease agreement at this week’s meeting.

Parks and Recreation Manager Jordan Schechtel said in his report the town has leased the old curling rink to the Battle River Archery Club for more than a decade. The current lease ends Jan. 31, 2023, so it needed to be renewed.

“The Archery Club have been good tenants over the years and have contributed to the upkeep and condition of the building,” he said. “The club has expressed their desire to work with the Town to fund renovations to the building, under the condition that a multi-year lease agreement can be secured.”

Schechtel said the club’s plans for renovations include replacing the lobby flooring and front door, as well as remodeling the main bathrooms to make them more modern as well as wheelchair accessible.

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Up to now, the lease agreements have always been year-to-year. The new proposed agreement will instead cover a five-year lease, from Feb. 1, 2023 to Jan. 31, 2028.

The archery club was paying $6,000 plus GST per year previously. Under the new agreement, the organization will pay the following rates plus GST each year: $6,300 in 2023, $6,600 in 2024, $6,900 in 2025, $7,200 in 2026, and $7,500 in 2027.

Schechtel said the organization requested a longer lease, since “they would like some security for the next few years.”

Council approved administration’s proposal to renew the lease agreement with the Battle River Archers for the five-year period, starting Feb. 1, 2023.

Coun. Kevin Russell said he supported the longer lease as recommended.

“It’s nice to see that,” he said. “You don’t have to do this year to year. I think they are good tenants, and we cost-share a lot of things with them.”

Coun. Doug Laing noted that since the organization is making improvements to the building, it benefits the town as well.

“They are not just leaving the building status quo,” he said. “They are continuing upgrades and renos. So, that’s also one of the reasons I think they are a great tenant.”

Mayor Ames Leslie agreed.

“They do a good job promoting archery with our youth, and keeping it alive in our province and in our community,” he said. “And, quite frankly, they are making the building better than they got it. So that’s never a bad thing.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow