By Charlene Tebbutt

Mayor's Address

Mayor highlights projects, challenges at annual State of the City Address

Jan 31, 2019 | 6:01 PM

Mayor Greg Dionne says much has been accomplished over the last year, but a sluggish economy and higher costs are making it tough to get more done in P.A.

Dionne spoke Thursday to members of the local business community at the annual State of the City Address. Dionne highlighted the city’s projects, new purchases and upcoming challenges during his speech to a sold-out crowd of just over 300 people.

Among the highlights in Dionne’s speech were the $1 million received from Husky following the oil spill of 2016, plans by the University of Saskatchewan to build a local campus in P.A., construction of the new water reservoir on River Street, and the economic benefits sure to come with the recently-announced marijuana production facility.

Still, the city is challenged with higher costs and higher taxes, including $132,000 in carbon taxes owing in 2019, Dionne said. City council voted to take money out of its roadways fund to lower the tax increase in 2019, but construction is down and the city is being hit with higher costs and less financial support at the provincial and federal government levels.

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“I don’t want people to think that we’re in the can,” Dionne said after his speech Thursday. “We’re not in the can, but we’re certainly not moving. We’re better than lots of other cities but we continue to suffer.”

Mayor Greg Dionne highlights some of the city’s projects over the last year. Charlene Tebbutt/ paNOW Staff

Changes to federal building code guidelines have also put a dent in some local city projects, Dionne said, including a proposed seniors’ housing development. The contractors behind the plan pulled out of the $17-million project just days ago, Dionne said, after costs ballooned to some $20 million under new energy code guidelines.

“We thought we could get this one, and we were almost there,” Dionne said. “It would have been a company that would have started construction quickly, very credible.”

The city has made some recent purchases, Dionne said, including a new rescue boat and ladder and pumper truck for the Prince Albert Fire Department and a $1 million CAT compactor at the local landfill. The city is also continuing with plans to bring in monthly water billing, including a new app residents can use to track their usage.

Dionne addressed talk of the planned reopening of the pulp and paper mill Thursday, saying the city offered to buy the mill from the current owners but were turned down. He said there is no confirmation the mill will be reopened by 2020, as past reports suggest, and the city is looking into options to take on the property, adding that it is already equipped with water and sewer capabilities and can produce energy.

“Last year, I didn’t know much,” Dionne said about the mill. “This year, I know even less.”

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt