At the Creighton town council meeting on Aug. 26, council agreed to purchase an annual membership in the Saskatchewan Economic Development Association (SEDA).
Mayor Bruce Fidler will attend a SEDA conference in Humboldt in November.
“Part of the workshop is on developing an economic development plan,” Fidler said, adding that the conference would provide guidance on promoting a community, and its interests, internationally.
When asked about economic development initiatives in Creighton, Fidler said that there were no programs currently in place “except what we initiate ourselves.”
Awaiting funding
Two Creighton infrastructure projects remain under consideration for funding under the New Building Canada Fund-Provincial Territorial Infrastructure Component (PTIC) program.
Less than five per cent of the total funding available under PTIC was allocated to 26 projects selected this summer. The selected projects were announced in a July 31 press release.
The two Creighton projects – upgrades to the Creighton raw water supply and replacement of water and sewer mains – were not selected but
remain on the list.
Gas funds
Council received confirmation that Creighton would receive $42,543 under a Saskatchewan gas tax fund that is disbursed annually.
A letter from the Ministry of Government Relations indicated that these funds are to be used for the purpose of municipal infrastructure and capacity building.
Fidler said funds are usually used for various small projects throughout the year. “It’s supposed to be used for green or environmental improvement projects.”
No space
Investors Group’s request to lease space at 216 Creighton Ave., where the Creighton Recreation Culture and Tourism office is located, was turned down.
“The area they wanted to lease, we are in need of that ourselves,” Fidler explained.
When asked about available space for businesses to rent in the community, the councillors acknowledged that there is a shortage of options.
Town administrator Paula Muench said “there are maybe properties that could be converted” into business-appropriate space, though they aren’t town-owned buildings.
Fund questions
Jane Robillard, chair of Northern Neighbours Foundation (NNF), submitted a letter to council with a challenge from Thomas Sill Foundation: they will match on a one for two basis up to $50,000 of new money the NNF receives until October 2016.
Robillard noted that the Town of Creighton could invest funds in the NNF with interest on those funds directed by the town annually.
Robillard noted this option as one possible use for funds that Creighton received from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) as thanks for its participation in a site-selection process for nuclear waste storage.
Creighton’s fund now totals $650,000. Flin Flon and Denare Beach each received a gift of $250,000 from NWMO.
The funds are intended for use for community initiatives, though each municipal council can decide how they should be spent.
Asked if Creighton town council had made plans for the expenditure of its NWMO funds, Fidler said no decisions had been made.
“It’ll be up [for discussion] in the next couple of months,” he said. “We are going to get down to more serious discussions on what we feel it will be best used for. I will probably be taking a bit of public input, asking residents for their thoughts, but it will come from council.”
