The resolution was amended with conditions that it be for a two-year time frame, that they be required to purchase one or two more garbage bins and that the organization resume meetings within the neighbourhood again, either online or in person. On Tuesday night, council heard from Scott Dakiniewich, program director at Eagles Nest Youth Ranch, about their residential group home in Battleford for four to six youth. He explained they had received a discretionary use permit for 18 months as a trial basis, at which point it was to be revisited. Now that the time period was up, they were making an application again, this time hoping for a permanent permit.
Two identical flashing-light signs will be placed on the road. Any additional costs beyond the $72,300 for the project would be borne by the town, according to the town’s chief administrative officer, Ash Alam. If there is a significant cost variance the town could still reject the funding, noted Mayor Ames Leslie. The province had previously announced the funding for Battleford in late December. Mayor Leslie noted the town had been working on obtaining funding for the project for the last five years, and that they had approached highways for the last number of years about the issue. Finally, the SGI funding opportunity became available.
For the Battlefords a case could be made that it was our worst year ever worse than even the cryptosporidium and oil spill years and not just because of the COVID-19 pandemic that prompted shutdowns, economic devastation, and no shortage of loss of life in the province and world. It was a year in which one event after another ended up postponed or called off. It was also a year of devastating tragedy: the loss of a beloved Battleford NHL player, a tragic local murder-suicide, and ongoing and notorious criminal cases in the local courts. But look on the bright side: at least North Battleford isn’t the “Crime Capital of Canada” anymore, ending a long streak at the top of the Crime Severity Index this year.