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Council approves Melfort Journal building to be part of a church

Aug 24, 2018 | 2:00 PM

Melfort City Council voted unanimously on Aug. 23 to grant Northeast Christian Fellowship Church discretionary approval to use the Melfort Journal building as a place of worship.

Pastor Paul Dubois said during his delegation at the Aug. 13 council meeting the current thought is to use the Journal building for Sunday school and Bible class, while putting in a boardroom, staff room with kitchen renovation, bigger bathrooms, and storage rooms.

The City of Melfort is expected to lose around $5,800 in tax revenue as churches don’t pay taxes, but Mayor Rick Lang said the church provides a valuable service to the community.

“You have two choices,” Lang said. “Stand in their way and be an obstacle, or work with them for the benefit of the community. Council decided to work with them as best we can.”