During an emergency city council meeting last night regarding the financial and time set backs of the controversial multiplex, council voted unanimously to abandon the project.
Days after approving the 2011s budget, which included a 6.04 per cent tax increase to cover the project, the City of North Battleford was informed that, due to the crisis in Japan, the commodity price of steel had increased by 84 per cent. This would increase the total cost of the multiplex by $13.4 million dollars.
"We just can't expect tax payers to cover that cost," said Mayor Iain Hamliton.
City administration contacted both the provincial and federal government to see if additional financial aid could be obtained, but to no avail.
Also, delays due to weather had put the project behind schedule, which increased the cost of labour.
Although it was a tough decision, council made the decision to cancel construction of the multiplex, but remain hopeful one will be built in the future.
"I feel like a dream has died," said councillor Ron Crash. "But the decision was necessary and hopefully, in the future, we'll be able to move forward with a multiplex facility."
Instead, donations to the project will be used to renovate and repair existing facilities, such as the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre and the Civic Centre.
City communications co-ordinator Mike Hackstead said the land and partly completed components of the CUPlex will be sold "as-is" to an New Zealand-based entrepreneur.
Bartholomew Humperdink, of Woolly-Woolly Enterprises, said he plans to convert the partially completed facility into a sheep farm and wool-product manufacturing plant.
"The benefits of wool are many," said Humperdink, adding the farm and plant will employ about 5,000 people, which, besides management, he plans to hire locally.
Humperdink added he will open an attached store to allow people in the Battlefords to enjoy his many fine products at a reduced price.
"The Battlefords will be fleeced," he said.
