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RDEK Board Highlights
Area A Flood Control Service Establishment Bylaw adopted
The new Electoral Area A Flood Control Service will help fund flood mitigation projects in Electoral Area A, along with the operation and maintenance of flood control infrastructure. The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors July 4 approved the establishment of a reserve fund for all the RDEK to have the matching funding required when grant programs are undertaken. Revenue generated by user fees in the Solid Waste Service will be used to reduce the taxes collected for that service, which will offset the cost of the new Flood Control Service thereby keeping taxation neutral.
Meetings with ministers during UBCM
RDEK Directors are hoping to meet with a number of Provincial Government ministers during the upcoming Union of BC Municipalities Convention. The following meetings will be requested:
– Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development (to express thanks for the Minister’s support for the West Fernie Servicing & Restructure Project;)
– Minister of Environment (MMBC recycling and Columbia Lake Park);
– Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (Windermere Creek)
– Minister of Health (Invermere Heliport—helicopters not meeting standards)
– Minister of Agriculture (ALR Policy).
Community Works Fund Agreement signed
The RDEK has signed the Community Works Fund Agreement with the Union of BC Municipalities for the period April 1 to March 31, 2024. The new agreement includes an increased range of eligible projects, such as sport infrastructure, recreational infrastructure, cultural infrastructure, tourism infrastructure, disaster mitigation and broadband connectivity. There is also a broadening of qualified projects within most existing project categories.
ALR delegated decision
The board considered an application for a non-farm use in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) to permit a secondary suite in a detached garage in the Cokato area. The application was approved by the board under the Electoral Area A Delegation Agreement.
New Post Office location for Wasa
The adoption of Bylaw No. 2527 was authorized by the board. The bylaw will allow for relocation of the Wasa Post Office to a property on Wasa Lake Park Drive.
Directors appointed to Regional Advisory Committee
Director Wayne Stetski (City of Cranbrook) and Director Heath Slee (Electoral Area B) have been appointed to represent the RDEK on the Columbia Basin Regional Advisory Committee.
Revised Environmentally Sensitive Areas Guidelines adopted
The Environmentally Sensitive Areas Development Permit Area in the Rockyview Official Community Plan has been updated with the adoption of Bylaw No. 2516. The revised guidelines are intended to clearly identify the specific environmental value of concern and applicable guidelines during development activities.
Cranbrook City Council invited to meet with the board
Mayor Stetski and Cranbrook City Council will be invited to attend an upcoming RDEK committee meeting to discuss the establishment of a joint Recreation Committee.
RDEK staff to conduct School Trustee Election
RDEK staff has been authorized to conduct the 2014 School Trustee election for School District No. 5 — Trustee Electoral Area 4 (RDEK Electoral Area B) and School District No. 6 — Trustee Electoral Area 4 (RDEK Electoral Area F and Canal Flats) and Trustee Electoral Area 5 (RDEK Electoral Area G and Radium Hot Springs).
Invermere Public Library Board appointments
Tom Symington and Gerriann Donahue have been appointed as Electoral Area F representatives and Norm Funnell has been appointed as Electoral Area G representative on the Invermere Public Library Board for the term expiring December 31, 2015.
Special event licence for Windermere Fall Fair
A special event licence has been issued to the Windermere Community Association for the Windermere Fall Fair to be held in Windermere on September 21.
Discretionary Grants in Aid (DGIA)
The City of Fernie will receive $1,000 from the Electoral Area A DGIA account for the sponsorship of the Canada Day Celebrations.
The Baynes Lake Senior’s Housing Society will receive $1,200 from the Electoral Area B DGIA account to go toward the purchase of a memorial bench and chairs in memory of long time community volunteer Jane Carlson.
The City of Cranbrook will receive $1,000 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account for its Mosquito Control Program.
Community Futures East Kootenay will receive $600 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account to go towards a memorial bridge plaque in honour of Gerald Joliffe.
The Columbia Wetlands Stewardship Partners will receive $1,000 from the Electoral Area F DGIA account and $750 from the Electoral Area G DGIA account to go towards operational and project costs.
Wildsight will receive $250 from the Electoral Area G DGIA account to go towards their Eco Kids Adventures program.
The Steamboat Mountain Music Society will receive $500 from the Area G DGIA account for the annual Steamboat Mountain Music Festival, which was held for the third time Saturday, July 5.
Other RDEK happenings
Public hearings
Tuesday, July 15 —7 p.m. Wasa Community Hall – 6145 Wasa School Road, Wasa Bylaw No. 2528—Electoral Area E Zoning & Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2502, 2014 – Amendment Bylaw No. 2, 2014 (Moan Road/0790656 BC Ltd.)
Tuesday, July 22 —7 p.m. Baynes Lake Community Hall – 468 Jaffray-Baynes Lake Road, Baynes Lake Bylaw No. 2523—Baynes Lake Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2319, 2011 – Amendment Bylaw No. 4, 2014 (Sharpe Road/Seaborn) -and- Bylaw No. 2524—South Country Zoning and Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2320, 2011 – Amendment Bylaw No. 6, 2014 (Sharpe/Seaborn)
Public meetings
Steeples Official Community Plan & Zoning Bylaw Upcoming Visioning Workshop – Wednesday, July 9 —7 p.m. Wardner Community Hall
Elk Valley Community Directed Funds Committee – Friday, July 11 —1 p.m. Fernie City Hall—Council Chambers
Columbia Valley Community Directed Funds Committee – September 8 —10:30 a.m. Windermere Fire Hall
Central East Kootenay Community Directed Funds Committee, September 11 —3 p.m. Heritage Inn Cranbrook
Next board meetings
Thursday, July 31 – Committee Meetings, TBA
Friday, August 1 – RDEK Board Meeting 9 a.m.
Kootenay East Regional Hospital District meeting 11:15 a.m.
For more information, please visit our website: www.rdek.bc.ca or follow us on Facebook and let the news come to you: www.facebook.com/eastkootenay
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