Residential development in ‘Butte discussed by town council

Picture Butte council briefs from a regular Picture Butte council meeting held Dec. 22.

Business licensing

In other council business, Picture Butte has decided to send its business licensing bylaw to committee for review. While Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Mike Derricott did not recommend any sweeping changes to the bylaw, he said it was time for council to review it. He suggested if there were any changes to the fees he would suggest raising the cost of the licence for local businesses to $60 a year, up $10 from the current $50 fee.

“Our pricing is not too different from the prices out there,” he said, in reference to a comparison conducted by administration with other similarly-sized communities.

Derricott noted if council is considering a licence fee increase, it would be best to wait until a full review of the bylaw can be conducted.

Coun. Cathy Moore said it has been years since the bylaw was reviewed and Coun. Joe Watson said it is late in the year to be considering changes for 2015.

Council agreed to send the bylaw to the committee level for review.

Residential development

A tender date on a new residential development in Picture Butte is anticipated to be set at the Jan. 12, 2015 meeting of Picture Butte council. The town expects to go to tender early in the New Year for the first phase of the new residential development next to the LDS church. The first phase has room for 26 lots and once they are 70 to 80 per cent sold the town will look at opening up the second phase for an additional 27 lots. The first phase will take in the land directly south of the church, while the second phase will include the rehabilitation of the former water reservoirs. Town Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Mike Derricott said the tender will cover both deep and shallow utilities in order to prepare the lots for residential development in 2015.

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