City's Western Boundry To Be Altered

The boundaries for the city of Swift Current will be changing again. City Council approved a resolution to alter the boundaries to include part of the west-end commercial strip from the city's current western boundary along 19th Avenue Northwest to Lac Pelletier Trail.

The City and Rural Municipality of Swift Current were unable to reach an agreement on a settlement for the lands, but the RM has stated that they are willing to allow the provincial Municipal Board to provide a resolution on the compensation.

Deputy Chief Administration Officer Tim Marcus says that will go to the Provincial Municipal Board, “Once we've completed our process and fill out the application form, which should be around the end of April, then the board has sixty days to hold a hearing. Then after they hold their hearing they have a further thirty days to provide a recomendation to the Minister of Municipal Affairs”

Marcus adds although the City and RM were unable to reach an agreement on compensation on their own, he says relations between both parties are improving, especially when it comes to annexation.

Mayor Jerrod Schafer said he was happy that the two sides were able to work co-operatively, “It's an annexation but it's a more cooperative one. Just agree to disagree and we'll let the Municipal Board decide on compensation.”

Schafer adds it's refreshing to see that the two sides are now working together to help accomodate the city's growth, “As I often say sometimes the pot has to boil over to catch everybodies attention and it's certainly did that. Things are on the right track now, you know I think there are lots of things that we can do in the future that can make things even better for the residents of this area.” A decision from the board on compensation is expected in the summer.