BATTLEFORD - The Town of Battleford is encouraging all its residents to participate in their Welcoming and Inclusive Community surveys.
This is a survey being done through the town’s participation in the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities. Chief administrative officer Ash Alam explained at the town council meeting on Monday that it is a survey to determine how inclusive the community will be and how welcoming they are.
Alam said it is a very simple survey of multiple choice questions, which can be found both online and in written form. The survey will be for both members of the public and also town staff.
For the public, there will also be a chance for participants to win gift cards.
Local residents who complete the survey will be automatically entered for a chance to win a $50 gift card. Council approved the request to provide funds for the gift cards at Monday’s meeting. The survey runs until Jan. 31.
According to the town, the survey will be online and printed copies will be available at Town Hall, Battleford Arena and at the Parks and Recreation office.
In other decisions from council Monday night:
Council had voted to remove the damaged bluff of trees right below the park next to 35th St. West in town. Mayor Ames Leslie said the trees there are falling down, and they will try and do as much of the work in-house as they can to reduce the costs of hiring a contractor. The town has indicated Sanburn Construction will be taken on to remove the trees.
“It’s becoming an eyesore, so let’s get rid of it,” was the reaction of Councillor David George. Council approved the removal of the trees unanimously.
In other resolutions, council has appointed Western Municipal Consulting Ltd. as the town’s Municipal Appeals Board of Revision.
Council has also approved the town’s submission of the Declaration of Eligibility for the Municipal Revenue Sharing Grant for 2021-22.
Also at the meeting, council heard an update from Concern for Youth.
During announcements and inquiries there were many congratulations for the town's Community Spirit group for the successful lighting of Lights of Joy in the park on 22nd St. About 50-60 people attended on a chilly Dec. 20 evening to see the lights turned on.
Mayor Leslie noted that members of the Saskatoon Police were in town as part of the province's and SGI's traffic enforcement blitz, handing out speeding tickets. "They're here for a reason," he said.
Councillor Alexis Christensen noted they had passed their one-year anniversary of the new Council. "I'm very grateful to be part of this Council, I think our staff are some of the best I've ever seen. One year in, we've made it," she said.
The next Battleford town council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 13.
