Two recreational spaces in Moose Jaw will soon have new names, with one space renamed after a dedicated baseball volunteer and another space to reflect the community’s Aboriginal history.
During its April 8 regular meeting, city council approved a motion that the ball diamond at Memorial Field be named the Lyle Helland Diamond. The overall space will remain as Memorial Field, but the diamond there will be renamed after the lifelong baseball volunteer.
Council also approved a motion to rename the 90-year-old Wild Animal Park land as Tatawaw Park. Tatawaw in Cree means “there is room for everyone; welcome.”
Both naming recommendations came from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.
The Moose Jaw Public Library presented its 2018 annual report. Board chair Sarah Simison provided data on how much the library was used last year. Some information shows there are 14,688 active cardholders; 282,252 items were borrowing, including e-resources; 170,395 patrons visited, which equals 52 visits per hour; and patrons used the public computers 14,166 times.
The City of Moose Jaw received $2.1 million in unexpected revenue from the federal government through the gas tax fund. Of these funds, $1.175 million will go toward the east feeder mains project; $500,000 will go to the WW17 cast iron pipe replacement program; and $425,000 will go to the Kinsmen Sportsplex for upgrades and improvements.
Approval was given for the City of Moose Jaw to work with the South Central Regional Immigration Partnership (SCRIP) so the latter organization can hold a community forum, called Vital Community Conversations, focused on new immigrants.
This event is to be held prior to April 30, with the municipality to provide funding so the SCRIP can rent a room at a city-owned building.
The revised 2019 parks and recreation rates and fees schedule — which now includes the Yara Centre — has been approved and will go into effect June 1.
Several motions were approved that update the 2019 tax policy. The updates also adjusted several of the mill rate factors prior to the setting of the mille rate and issuing tax notices.
The mill rate factors for other agricultural land and non-arable agricultural land, plus improvements, will be established on the basis that these properties will pay the same rate of taxation as if they were in the Rural Municipality of Moose Jaw. City administration is being directed to calculate this mill rate factor and include it in the mill rate bylaw, once the relevant information is available.
Furthermore, the 2019 municipal tax increase will be shared between residential and commercial property classes based upon the percentage of taxable assessment in each class. This split will be accomplished by adjusting the appropriate mill rate factors for each class of property.
The mill rate factor for the commercial and industrial property class will be adjusted to reflect the 2018 commercial appeal losses and the projected 2019 commercial appeal losses. The additional taxation generated from the projected 2019 commercial appeal losses adjustment will be transferred to the commercial appeal allowance reserve.
Lastly, city administration has been authorized to exclude small assessment changes of $100 from the annual supplementary assessment and billing process.
More in-depth stories on all issues discussed at city council will appear throughout the day.
The next city council meeting is April 22.
