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RDEK Board Highlights
The following are highlights from the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board meeting held Nov. 6.
West Fernie engineering services contract increased
The engineering services contract with the Kerr Wood Leidal/MPE Engineering team for the West Fernie Servicing & Restructure Project will be increased to a total not to exceed $1,970,486 for Phases 1 and 2.
Windermere Reservoir project under budget
The Windermere Reservoir project is well underway and construction on the new reservoir is expected to be complete in early December.
There have been several cost savings on the project, resulting in a surplus of approximately $350,000. The board has approved spending those funds on further upgrades, specifically secondary chlorination and Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) remote monitoring instrumentation. Both of these upgrades are of value for the water system, regardless of which treated water solution the community ultimately selects. Both are also within the project’s approved scope and can be completed within the time constraints of the grant. The Windermere Reservoir construction contract with Border Holdings has been amended to include secondary chlorination and the Engineering Services contract with WSP Canada Ltd. has been amended to include the PRV remote monitoring instrumentation.
Steeples Official Community Plan adopted
The board adopted a new Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw for the communities of Fort Steele, Wardner, Mayook and Bull River.
The planning and public consultation process began in November 2013 and concluded with a public hearing in Wardner this past August.
Ministries encouraged to provide enhanced levels of support to control invasive plants
A letter will be sent to the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure and the Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations encouraging them to provide enhanced levels of support to control invasive plants on Crown land. In addition, RDEK staff will consult with the board and begin enhanced enforcement activities on private properties identified to have invasive plant concerns.
Map Reserve sought over Tie and Rosen foreshores
The board will be requesting the Ministry of Forests, Lands & Natural Resource Operations establish a Section 16 map reserve over the foreshore and bed of Tie and Rosen Lakes to allow the RDEK to complete an Official Community Plan for the area and develop policies to manage group moorage facilities and docks fronting public land.
A Section 16 map reserve will allow the province to refuse to accept certain types of foreshore tenure applications. The board’s request is the result of a recently launched planning process for the lake communities that is expected to address issues related to shoreline development.
Service establishment process gets green light
The RDEK board has directed regional staff to proceed with the process to establish a new liquid waste service in Electoral Area A. Currently, revenues and expenses associated with the septage receiving pond near Hosmer are included in the Solid Waste service. The establishment of a new service would separate it from the Solid Waste budget and maintain the current practice of keeping the costs associated with, and revenues generated by, this liquid waste facility in Electoral Area A. There would be no impact to tax payers as a result of establishing this new service. To proceed with establishing a new service, elector assent is required. An Alternative Approval Process is expected to be held in the New Year.
Area B OCP Advisory Committee appointed
Twelve people have been appointed to the Area B Official Community Plan Advisory Committee: Nathan Anselmo, Shaun Damstrom, Travis Fahselt, Bruce Gilmar, Marla Jones, Rex Kary, Keith McLean, Gary Mitchell, Roy Oler, Fred Robertson, Lorie Sinclair and Shayne Webster. The committee will provide input to the Area B Director and planner throughout the OCP Planning Process.
Parks plan amended
The Regional Parks Plan has been amended to add Westside Legacy Trail and the Edgewater School Path. The School Path has been designated an Area G Park and an application will be submitted to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to construct and maintain the path within the road right-of-way along Sinclair Street.
Whiteway to receive funding
The Lake Windermere Whiteway will begin receiving $7,500/year in operational funding starting in 2016. The funding will come from the Columbia Valley Recreation Service.
Two new members appointed to Area A APC
Steve Hill and Karen Alexander have been appointed to the Advisory Planning Commission and Electoral Area Advisory Commission for Electoral Area A.
Discretionary Grants in Aid (DGIA)
The Elko Fire Protection Service will receive $49,000 from the Electoral Area B DGIA account. In 2011, the RDEK opted to allocate the payments in-lieu-of-taxes it receives from BC Hydro for the Elko Dam to the Area B DGIA account so that if/when a fire protection service was established in Elko, it would be used towards that service. Now that the Elko Fire Protection service is established, the accumulated funds can be transferred from the DGIA account and will be used to help purchase equipment for the new Fire Department.
City of Cranbrook Leisure Services will receive $3,927.50 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account for a bulk purchase aquatic passes. The passes will be distributed to Area C residents at a reduced rate and details of the program will be released soon.
The Canadian Mental Health Association will receive $1,500 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account for its annual Community Christmas Dinner.
The Fairmont and District Lions Club will receive $6,000 from the Electoral Area F DGIA account for its recycling operation and garage sale storage building.
The Fairmont Business Association will receive $1,000 from the Electoral Area F DGIA account for a highway reader board sign.
Letter of thanks to be sent
A letter of thanks will be written to Peter Pankovitch and Copper Point Golf Course for their respective contributions in 2015 to Windermere Beach and Crossroads Ballpark.
Public hearings
Monday, November 23 —4 p.m . at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort—Birch Room – 5225 Fairmont Resort Road, Fairmont Hot Springs. For Bylaw No. 2646—Regional District of East Kootenay – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1992 – Amendment Bylaw No. 307, 2015 (Lyttle Lake / Hutchinson & Anderson)
Tuesday, November 24 —7 p.m. at the Regional District of East Kootenay—Board Room – 19 – 24th Ave S, Cranbrook for:
Bylaw No. 2620—Regional District of East Kootenay – Cranbrook Rural Zoning Bylaw No. 1402, 2001 – Amendment Bylaw No. 37, 2015 (Density Averaging / RDEK);
Bylaw No. 2621—Regional District of East Kootenay – Wycliffe Zoning & Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2256, 2010 – Amendment Bylaw No. 8, 2015 (Density Averaging / RDEK);
Bylaw No. 2624—Regional District of East Kootenay – Moyie & Area Land Use Bylaw
No. 2070, 2008 – Amendment Bylaw No. 9, 2015 (Density Averaging / RDEK).
And Bylaw No. 2560—Regional District of East Kootenay – Moyie & Area Land Use Bylaw No. 2070, 2008 – Amendment Bylaw No. 8, 2014 (Miscellaneous / RDEK);
Bylaw No. 2570—Regional District of East Kootenay – Rockyview Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2255, 2010 – Amendment Bylaw No. 13, 2014 (Miscellaneous / RDEK);
Bylaw No. 2577—Regional District of East Kootenay – Cranbrook Rural Zoning Bylaw No. 1402, 2001 – Amendment Bylaw No. 34, 2014 (Miscellaneous / RDEK);
Bylaw No. 2653—Regional District of East Kootenay – Wycliffe Zoning & Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2256, 2010 – Amendment Bylaw No. 10, 2015 (Miscellaneous / RDEK).
2016 board meeting dates approved
The 2016 board meeting schedule will be as follows: January 8; February 12; March 4; April 1; May 6; June 10; July 8; August 5; September 2; October 7; November 4; December 2.
Next board meetings
Thursday, December 3 – Committee Meetings -TBA
Friday, December 4 – RDEK Board Meeting – 9 a.m.
RDEK
