T H E B AT T L E F O R D S
Regional
news-optimist
Electrical
306-445-6707 www.nblukplumbing.com
Serving the Battlefords since 1908
www.newsoptimist.ca
|
Thursday, June 17, 2021
|
Published every Thursday
50 FREEZERS IN STOCK BATTLEFORD OVER ready for pick-up or delivery
FURNITURE
“Where difference isthe worth “Where the the difference is worth drive”the
drive”
$
20 Cubic Feet
Maytag Freezer From Only
Valleyview Tower issues go straight to premier
999.
Feeding Time
Residents support letter By John Cairns Staff Reporter
Residents at Valleyview Towers in North Battleford have sent a letter to Premier Scott Moe and other provincial cabinet ministers seeking action on issues at the facility. The correspondence is from Darryl Mills, a former manager at Valleyview Towers, who outlined complaints directed against the Battlefords Housing Authority about their failure to address second-hand smoke at the facility. Also attached were letters of support from three tenants corroborating the concerns about second-hand smoke in the building. It was addressed to Premier Moe as well as ministers Lori Carr, Paul Merriman and Everett Hindley, and to a number of media organizations including the News-Optimist. The correspondence is the latest in a long-running letter-writing campaign by Valleyview Towers residents calling for
changes to management at Battlefords Housing Authority over various security, crime, disorderly conduct and now smoking problems at the housing complex. In his letter to the premier dated June 11, Mills alleges a “deplorable lack of competent professional management and leadership that has overtaken the entire housing authority.” Mills stated the Valleyview Tower II building of 89 units now has more than 50 vacant suites and that a large number of the empty suites are currently not inhabitable. He alleges “rampant uncontrolled smoking” which led one tenant — referring to Les Turner, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — to file a complaint with the Office of Residential Tenancies due to second-hand smoke in the building. Mills also expressed concerns about the response from BHA management in the immediate aftermath of that complaint filing.
Mills alleges that several days after filing the ORT claim, “all of the chairs were removed from the large non-smoking patio area in front of the main entrance. This left no shaded area anywhere on the property for nonsmokers to sit, visit and get out of the sun.” “It cannot be overstated this is the first time in 40 years that non-smoking tenants in this building we’re not able to find a place in the shade to sit,” Mills writes. He also noted Valleyview Tower II was also the only housing authority facility to have the chairs removed. “And your government says it cares about seniors? Clearly, this and other even more despicable actions by the manager are nothing more than vindictive and petulant.” Mills also stated that the current designated smoking area needed to be “immediately permanently removed,” and that the designated smoking area had been moved at least six times in recent years. Continued on Page 5
HAVE A HOME INSURANCE CLAIM?
The Carpet People
306.445.1221
2741-99th Street North Battleford
By John Cairns Staff Reporter
North Battleford is about to add a fourth cab company. At their meeting Monday, city council approved an application from River Side Cab, owned by Mereamo Seru and Yanfeng Sun. They have been granted approval to operate five taxi cabs in the city. One issue council had to
consider was whether the market would be oversaturated with River Side Cab’s arrival. The city currently has three licensed cab companies and one rideshare service with 32 vehicles currently in service, according to a city memo. But administration provided numbers from a number of comparatively sized cities showing the number of cabs and cab companies would still be in line with
School
21st Century Learning For All Living Sky School Division No. 202
Phone 306-937-3934 to find out what LSSD Virtual School has to offer for the fall of 2021.
ICC
we’re here to help you with your flooring insurance!
Fourth taxi company approved for N.B.
LSSDvirtual
We are a part of the insurance program!
Alexander and Magdelina Robin, who have made their home in Battleford, feed their babies at least once every hour. Keeping a record of their nesting, laying of eggs and now bringing up of babies is Jim McLane, whose photography and commentary is featured on Page 14.
Battleford Agency Tribal Chiefs For up to date information please visit our facebook page www.batc.ca 1282 101 Street, North Battleford, SK S9A 0Z8
(306) 446-1400
www.lskysd.ca
what other cities are able to handle, albeit at the higher end of the scale. According to that city memo, Portage la Prairie, Man. has nine taxi companies with 35 vehicles while Thompson has three cab companies and 42 vehicles. Junior Planner Brett Kitchen said the city has “no concerns at this time that the market is oversaturated. However, we will Continued on Page 5