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Chamber of Commerce chooses new president

Feb 1, 2016 | 8:16 AM

The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce is welcoming a new president to its board.

Entrepreneur and owner of Oil Can Charlie’s, Jay Bottomley, agreed to take on the position from outgoing president Brendon Boothman.

Bottomley moved to the Battlefords six years ago from Calgary and soon after started his business.

One of the areas he intends to focus on over the next year as President, is getting the business community talking.

“I’m really looking at doing a lot more networking events and bringing businesses together on a social level, because that’s where a lot of great ideas are bred,” Bottomley said, at the organization’s annual general meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Looking forward to the coming year, he expects growth to slow a little in the community, but not like in other regions.

“Everyone’s looking at this year wondering what’s going to happen. Fortunately, our area here isn’t so heavy in oil and gas,” he said.

Meanwhile, former President Brendon Boothman said there are still a few issues he would like to help continue pushing forward, while he serves on the board for a year as past president, such as taxation.

“Currently the structure potentially discourages new investment, so we’re just looking at ways we can try to make it a little more of a level playing field and I think if that’s the case that can attract new investment to the community as well,” explained Boothman.

He said the city currently uses an appraised model for tax collection, but an income-generation model could help level the playing field. Businesses in North Battleford currently pay taxes on the assessed value of their property, whereas an income-based model is based on the income the property generates.

Work will continue on the issue as the city’s newly-formed tax committee meets later this year.

Also, at the meeting, Warren Williams of Bralin Technology Solutions was voted in as first vice-president, Terry Caldwell of Empress Furniture and Carpet Superstores as second vice-president and Ruebecca Fiddler was appointed as treasurer.

 

cstockwell@jpbg.ca

@battlefordsnow