By Greg Higgins

North Battleford receives $3.5 million for costs due to oil spill

Aug 16, 2016 | 6:00 AM

Husky Energy is giving the city an advance of $3.5 million to cover immediate costs related to water sourcing after an oil spill last month.

Jim Puffalt, city manager, said the unofficial total compensation needed is roughly $8 to $10 million dollars. He also said this number shouldn’t be compared to the $5 million Prince Albert received.

“It is a number that we felt was sufficient for our situation. There were a number of expenses we knew would be coming down the road. It’s great that as soon as the bills come we can pay them and be done with it,” Puffalt said.

He added water restrictions have had the biggest impact on the town’s cash flow because the city makes most of its profit from utilities.

According to Puffalt, two new wells were dug recently, but pumps have not been connected to them. Once both are fully operational he expects all water restrictions to be lifted, with the exception of sports fields and parks. He expects the pumps to be running soon.

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Puffalt added North Battleford has been lucky with higher than normal rainfall keeping the streets clean. He said the city is still trying to find a solution for the street sweeper.

“It hasn’t been out. We need to find a way to get a water supply to it or we are going to start getting dusty and dirty,” Puffalt said.

Greg Higgins is battlefordsNOW’s city municipal affairs and health reporter. He can be reached at ghiggins@jpbg.ca or tweet him @realgreghiggins.