The tax concession policy for 2019 and the reopening of the back lane to Gateway Co-op were among the items of concern to town council at its regular meeting on December 4.
The following tax concession policy was adapted for 2019:
For construction of a new building or structure, if vacant Town-owned land is purchased, the value attributable to the virgin land value shall be given free of charge but the value attributable to the services to the land shall be paid, plus the following tax cancellations shall be applicable: 100 per cent tax cancellation in the first year, 75 per cent tax cancellation in the second year and 50 per cent tax cancellation in the third year.
If a new building or structure is constructed on privately owned land, the above tax concessions will apply to the building or structure provided the gross assessment is greater than $50,000.
For construction of an addition to an existing building or structure, the following tax cancellations shall be applicable: 100 per cent tax concession in the first year, 75 per cent tax concession in the second year and 50 per cent tax concession in the third year.
The above cancellations apply to the addition only provided the gross assessment of the addition is greater than $50,000.
For the purchase of a commercial or industrial building or structure, vacant for more than one year, and the operation of a business from there, provided it is an arms-length transaction: 50 per cent tax concession in the first year, 50 per cent tax concession in the second year and 25 per cent tax concession in the third year.
The above cancellations will be for the municipal portion only.
Concessions will be prorated from the effective date as determined by the Chief Administrative Officer.
No tax concessions will be granted where an existing business, building or structure is moved from one location to another within the Town unless the total business area, building size or structure size increases; in which case, the above shall apply regarding additions to an existing building or structure.
Frontage tax is not eligible for any concession whatsoever.
Each tax concession granted will be in the form of a resolution or bylaw of Council.
Tax concessions will not be granted on properties in arrears of taxes.
Tax concessions will be cancelled and/or reversed if taxes are in arrears.
Council may consider other concession options for special circumstances.
Concession applications must be received within one year from the date of title transfer.
Council set the following tax prepayment discount rates for 2019: four per cent in January, three per cent in February, two per cent in March and one per cent in April.
Council set the property tax penalty rates for current year taxes in 2019: one per cent in November and one per cent in December.
Council re-opened the back lane from Fourth Street east to Gateway Co-op and designated the traffic flow as one-way to the west; on a trial basis, to be reviewed in six months.
Council rescheduled its February 5, 2019 meeting to February 12 and canceled the February 19 meeting.
Council set the following landfill gate fees, effective January 1, 2019: $5 for an automobile; $10 for a half-ton truck or utility trailer; $30 for a one-ton truck, $50 for a truck or trailer between one-ton and semi, single axle; $100 for a truck or trailer between one-ton and semi, tandem axle; $200 for a semi-trailer truck; $35 for a refrigerator or deep freezer; no charge for compostables for residents only; and an annual contractor’s fee of $300 for compostables only.
Non-residents pay double the above rates; except for a truck and trailer between one-ton and semi, single and tandem axles; and semi-trailer trucks, non-residents pay pay four times the above rates.
Council extended the sign corridor agreement with Olivia Chaikowski for an additional year at a rate of $20 per sign.
Council authorized the mayor and all of council to attend the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention to be held February 3 to 6, 2019 in Saskatoon.
Council agreed to hire Robert Taylor as permanent Labourer I, effective December 1.
