Airport Authority Secures $1 Million Loan Guarantee From The City
To help bridge the time between paying an invoice to the time re-payment arrives from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) Executive Committee unanimously decided to co-sign a loan to allow the Moose Jaw Municipal Airport Authority complete their upgrades of the municipal airport.
The guarantee or co-signing of the loan will not cost the taxpayers any money.
Read More
Despite Some Questions Council Approves Major Change Order
Opening doors on a major project has proven costly for the City and with more doors left to open there may well be more not so pleasant surprises remaining.
Read More
Council Briefs January 16th, 2021
A selection of regular appointments, new zoning to allow a River Street West development and protruding manhole covers.
Read More
City Hall Not Returning To Regular Hours For At Least A Month
If you were hoping to sneak in early to pay your water bill or do any other business at City Hall before you have to plug a parking meter you are going to have to wait for at least another month.
Council has been told the present four hours of being open to the general public Monday to Friday will continue due to the Province’s restrictions to help prevent the spread of COVID - 19.
Read More
Proposed Residential Development Could Benefit From Repaired Bridge
Approving the repairs to the 7th Avenue SW bridge will not only benefit homeowners on the south side of the Moose Jaw River as well as people enjoying the area but it could be a major benefit to a developer planning a major new residential development on the former Valley View Centre property.
Read More
City Approves Repair Of 7th Avenue SW Bridge
After being closed to vehicle traffic for close to six years there is new life being breathed into the 7th Avenue SW Bridge as Council voted unanimously to approve over $832,000 to repair the structure.
Read More
City Ends 2020 With A Small Budget Surplus
Through the careful stewardship of the City’s finances and a lot of hard work the City in the preliminary 2020 year end financials shows they were able to generate a small surplus.
Winning some long standing property tax appeals with some dating back to 2017 also brought in some much needed funds
Read More
Predicted Impact Of Photo Radar Revenue Loss Impacts City's Budget
The predicted negative impact of changing the formula for distributing the net proceeds of photo radar fines on the City’s bottom line has become reality two years later.
Read More
Council Approves Transferring Ownership Of Geo-Thermal Wells
What appeared to be an easy motion to transfer the ownership and financial responsibilities of the two geo-thermal wells that supply Temple Gardens Mineral Spa ended up getting split into two motions when a councillor questioned a refund being used to finance it.
Read More
Property Tax Arrears And Payment Plans Take Year Of The Pandemic Leap
Despite the trend of growing property taxes in arrears Council was told perspective was needed in the actual 2020 increase due to the pandemic - plus there was a bit of a silver lining for those behind on their taxes and the City.
Read More
Administration Asked To Prepare Report Reviewing Snow Removal
Council unanimously approved a motion to have Administration prepare a report about the costs to remove the snow piled along Priority 1 and Priority 2 streets for discussion at next year’s budget deliberations.
Another potential solution discussed to improve snow clearing was to potentially test a different system on an area of Snow Route where residents would remove their vehicles from the streets and then the plow unobstructed without lifting the gate at driveways. Later residents would have to shovel their driveways out as done in Toronto and Montreal.
Read More
Mayor Gets New Committee To Help Keep City Clean
Despite having its detractors on Council a new committee to coordinate and lead the efforts for a cleaner Moose Jaw and subsequent community pride has been established.
Read More
City Gets Surprise Returns On Investments
A surprise fourth quarter market rally has led to the City earning millions in investment returns on their $100 million reserve funds.
Read More
City Commissions Study On The Use Of Geo-Thermal Energy
Council’s approval to spend just over $54,000 on a study into the geo-thermal potential for the new industrial park is an investment in the future of a world moving away from oil, Mayor Tolmie says
Read More
Council Approves Additional Funding For Two Facilities Upgrades And Repairs
Council approved over $100,000 be spent to finish upgrades and repairs at two City facilities.
One of the projects will see procedural changes within a City department after work proceeded without Council funding approval.
Read More
Missing Information Leads To Council Backtracking On Disposal Fees Decision
A long time Moose Jaw business received an apology and a more equitable landfill disposal fee after Council discovered they had not been provided with all of the pertinent information to make a proper decision.
Read More
Councillor Typifies Print Media As "Ancient and Outdated" Calls For Advertising Policy Review
Typifying print media as ancient and outdated Councillor Dawn Luhining has asked for a review of how the City spends its advertising dollars.
Read More
Mayor Says City Doing What It Can To Open Facilities More
Mayor Fraser Tolmie answered questions from MJ Independent in a post Council media scrum about the impact of the loss of recreational opportunities due to COVID - 19 restrictions and what the City is doing about it.
Read More
Moose Jaw Soccer Asks For Rate Cut Through Restrictions
“Currently our rates per hour per player have tripled…At this time it is unsustainable,” Mike Armstrong, president of the Moose Jaw Soccer Association (MJSA) told Council in an attempt to get a temporary rate reduction at the Yara Centre. A request that was unanimously denied.
Read More
Mayor Delivers State Of The City Speech In A Year Dominated By COVID -19
Traditionally at the first Council meeting of the year the Mayor stands up and delivers the annual State Of The City Speech.
The speech reflect on the past, speaks of the present and points the way to what the Mayor sees for the City’s future. The speech often includes future initiatives, plans and policies to the lead the City on its journey.
We have have provided here the 2021 State Of The City Address by Mayor Fraser Tolmie, unedited in its entirety. We encourage our readers to give it a read.
Read More