麻豆视频

In mid-December the Carlyle Chamber of Commerce launched their very first website and after three months chamber president Martin Tourand says they now plan to go more in-depth with the website.

"We just wanted to get the basics, a landing page, to tell who we were, where we were and where to get a hold of us if you had problems," he said.

"The chamber of commerce is fairly new again to Carlyle, we've been reinstated again after a number of years on hiatus."

In addition to making the public aware of chamber happenings Tourand explained the launch was also because of the tax issues business owners faced last year and stressed it is an ongoing matter. In June many business owners experienced a dramatic spike in their property tax, some ranging from 35 and 62 per cent to very high numbers of over a 100 per cent according to some store owners. Saskatchewan Management Assessment Agency(SAMAA) officials at the time explained that the tax increase was based on market value which did not sit well with many businesses. But after several lengthy meetings with town council and SAMAA reps, business owners were given a tax break, however Tourand said there is still more SAMAA can do.

"We're trying to get all the businesses in town to throw in a reassessment to let SAMAA know that we're not happy with the assessment they gave us last time. We're going to have a kind of blitz on Main Street in the business community in the next few days, taking around forms to see if we can get them to let SAMAA reassess their business," he said.

The chamber has also partnered with the Neil Squire Society and Tourand said part of their contract with the society is to have links to their site on chamber's website. As members of the provincial chamber, the website also provides links to their site as well.

"One of the things we wanted to make sure of is that all of our members knew where to get a hold of us," Tourand said.

"For the first little while it takes some time for members to know where we are and what's going on with it. Again I run my own business so it makes it a little tough and I'm the one who does the website as well"

He is also urging people with web design experience who wish to help with the website to contact the chamber as they are open to any amount of help can get.

Tourand added the chamber will be hosting a multimedia event on April 16 at the Skyline Motor Inn where several guest speakers will share information on how to effectively use and maximize online tools like Facebook and Twitter.

"We're going to be sending out emails to members to get them to hopefully come out to it," he said.

The president is also inviting businesses from neighbouring towns like Manor, Kisbey, Arcola and Oxbow to attend the event.

"If any of their businesses would like to come, we're sure welcoming them as well," he said.

The web address for the chamber's new website is www.carlylechamberofcommerce.ca.