Town waives business license fees

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Town of Strathmore is waiving business fees for businesses affected by the most recent round of COVID-19 public health measures.

In Strathmore, general business licenses cost $100 for residential businesses and $200 for non-residential businesses. Waiving the fee is a sign of support to local businesses, said Mel Tiede, the town’s director of corporate services.

“With the continued health restrictions on restaurants, gyms, barbershops and the like, this sector of the economy is very much at risk,” said Tiede.

Based on estimates from 2020, this would apply to about 90 businesses across town in 2021, including some home-based businesses. Businesses that have already paid this year’s fee will be refunded.

Waiving the fees will represent a loss of about $9,000 of revenue to the town, which will be funded by a transfer from the general administration reserve, explained Tiede.

With businesses now facing more constraints after being challenged by the pandemic for over a year, the town should be trying to mitigate as much damage as possible, said Councillor Jason Montgomery. “I hope every little bit helps,” he said.

While paying the fee may not make-or-break some businesses, it is the sentiment that matters, said Councillor Denise Peterson. 

“I think that it’s not so much the amount, as it is the fact that we can say to these small businesses that we recognize that you’re really suffering, and that we’re trying to have your back in some small way,” she said.

The move could also lend itself to generating creativity among both town councillors and people in the community to develop ways to help businesses mitigate their losses, said Peterson. This could be through advocating for them at the federal or provincial governments, using RMA and AMA to promote services, or working within the community to drive business to them once the pandemic wanes, she added.

Town adjusts to new measures

The Town of Strathmore is making some adjustments to the way it conducts business after the new public health measures were announced by the province.

Indoor recreation facilities are now closed. This includes the Strathmore Motor Products Sports Centre, Strathmore Aquatic Centre and Strathmore Family Centre. Town staff has used past shutdowns to perform maintenance at these facilities and are once again planning work for the next few weeks there.

Outdoor recreation facilities remain open but will be affected by the new guidelines. The Lions Splash Park is still scheduled to be open by June 1 and will operate within guidelines. Summer Camp registration will also continue, with staff working on contingency plans for location and activities. 

The Strathmore town hall is now open by appointment only. Staff can assist the public by phone, email or online meetings. Town services are also available through the MyStrathmore online portal.