Issues about garbage being dumped in the surrounding RM, as well as a draft agreement on the First Nations Heritage Park, dominated the final meeting of North Battleford's outgoing council before the 2012 civic election.
The issue that ended up garnering the lengthiest discussion Monday concerned a request from the RM of North Battleford to waive waste management facility fees for litter that had been dumped in ditches and road allowances within the rural municipality.
In correspondence dated Sept. 20, RM administrator Debbie Arsenault stated the RM has had to pick up tires, appliances and bags of garbage that have been dumped there. They also have been able to trace the garbage dumped there back to residents in the North Battleford.
The estimated waste management fees for 2012 were expected to come to $312. Council voted to accept City administration's recommendation to waive the tipping fees for the waste from the RM's ditches and road allowances, but only if there was evidence the waste originated from North Battleford and only over a trial period of six months.
In other business, council received the draft land transfer agreement between the City and the Battle River Nations Trade and Tourism Corporation regarding the First Nations heritage park.
The City has agreed to donate land in the southeast quadrant for the park. The written agreement is still to be finalized and eventually signed but is designed to protect the City's interests should the heritage park not go ahead.
Another item concerned building permits in the city. There were 12 permits issued in September 2012, valued at $14,639,000, compared to Sept. 2011 numbers where 13 permits were issued for $14,060,000.
The bulk of last month's numbers were from Caleb's 94-unit seniors' housing project beside the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre.
Building Inspector Jerry Wintonyk said Caleb was now on site getting started on construction of the new complex.
City Manager Jim Toye also reports the City is working towards getting the tendering process going soon for demolition of the existing Kinsmen Aquatic Centre, noting there will be two separate work sites at that area.
The demolition tender will require council approval and that issue should come up for discussion within the next couple of months.
