Town approves waiving Farmers’ Market business licence fee

“The town has granted the waiver of the business licence fee in previous years as it was considered as a drawing card for the downtown businesses,” interim CAO Noreen Hoffart said in her submitted report.

The town’s business licence bylaw states that council, at its discretion, may waive a licence fee upon written request. The waived fee is to be “exercised in good faith without discrimination and in the public interest.”

The Farmers’ Market plans to set up in front of Battleford Furniture, as usual, when it opens this summer.

Coun. David George spoke up and said he supports the Farmers’ Market, but noted it does make a profit, so it is not, in essence, a non-profit organization that would warrant the fee to be waived.

“They are in competition with other people that do buy business licences,” he said. “And, if there are 10 vendors there, which there are most of the time, $155 divided by 10 is not that a whole bunch of money.”

Coun. Alexis Christensen agreed with George.

“It’s not very often we waive anything for anybody,” she said. “We can’t say it’s the same as an event, because it’s a weekly thing. So, it would be nice even if they applied to the rec. board and were able to get their fee all set every year. Then, it’s good and it feels fine, so we’re not just making an allowance for one.”

Christensen added she loves the Farmers’ Market and uses it.

“It’s great, but the cost [for the licence] isn’t high,” she said.

The majority of council voted in favour of administration’s recommendation and waived the fee for the Farmers’ Market to operate, as it is a boost to the community and the fee was traditionally waived in the past.

Coun. Shelley Boutin-Gervais was in favour of waiving the fee.

“They offer really fresh produce, and it’s not like [they are] out making tons of money doing it,” she said.

Coun. Kevin Russell had no issue with waiving the charge.

“For a couple of hours on Thursday mornings [when the market operates], I’m fine with it,” he said.

Mayor Ames Leslie also supported waiving the fee.

He noted that technically each vendor might have to pay a business licence fee, depending on the bylaw wording, unless the Farmers’ Market entity was looked at as a non-profit corporation.

Leslie added it’s also simply “a nice gesture” for the Town to support the Farmers’ Market and waive the

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow

by Angela Brown

Town approves waiving Farmers’ Market business licence fee

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