There were a few small issues dealt with at the Aug. 20 Town Council meeting, but with Mayor Chris Odishaw out of the community, the election on the way and the slower pace of summer politics, there were few major issues on the table.
Firstly, in response to a letter from Muscular Dystrophy Canada, council declared September to be Muscular Dystrophy Awarenesss Month. In a second declaration, Oct. 15 to 21 was declared to be Waste Reduction Week in a response to the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council. For more information about Waste Reduction Week, visit SaskWasteReduction.ca.
The council also renewed its commitment to the Opera House Project, by passing a resolution explaining that they were "committed to continue to move forward on the Opera House Project which includes the restoration of the Opera House, renovations to the Town Hall and the addition to provide accessibility." The town also committed itself to provide in-kind services to the Opera House Steering Committee. Both resolutions are in part symbolic and will be used to help the Opera House Project fill out grant applications.
In another small bylaw, the town changed the discounts awarded to those who pay their municipal taxes early. For those who are late in their payments, the penalties are the same. One per cent extra if taxes are paid in September, and one per cent cumulatively every month after, with a penalty of 10 per cent if taxes are still unpaid on Jan. 1.
Taxpayers who pay prior to March 31 formerly received a discount of 15 per cent on their taxes, with the discount decreasing to 9 per cent in August. The bylaw passed lowers these discounts by 5 per cent, from a maximum discount of ten per cent before March 31 to a minimum of four before Aug. 31.
What was set to be the major story from the Aug. 20 meeting, the town's purchase of the old Battleford Cooperative Curling Club building, was delayed pending more discussion.
