The following is a synopsis of what occurred during the May 5 Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors’ meeting.

Windermere Treated Water Project updates

The proposal to purchase Parr Utilities will include the purchase of the building that houses the Water Treatment Plant. The board has given direction that if an agreement is reached on the sale of Parr Utilities and the building, the method of community assent will by referendum (vote). There will be detailed information coming out to both the Windermere Water Service Area and existing Parr customers once an agreement has been reached and more details are known. The board has also authorized staff to submit an application to the Gas Tax Strategic Priorities Fund for the Windermere Treated Water Project. The RDEK application will be for $6 million, which is the maximum that can be applied for through this grant program.

Meadowbrook Home Based Business Variance approved

The board approved a development variance permit for Gwinner’s Country Butcher in Meadowbrook. The variance will allow the enclosed area used for the home based business to expand beyond the present limit of 150m2 to 296m2 to bring an existing micro-abattoir and butcher shop business into conformity with the bylaw and allow for an expansion to the building.

Petition to be held on Jaffray Fire Expansion proposal

The proposal to expand the Jaffray Fire Protection Service Area to include Wardner and portions of Mayook and Bull River will be presented to the community for approval. There will be an information meeting on June 1 at 7 p.m. at the Wardner Community Hall where Electoral Area C Director Rob Gay and RDEK staff will provide specifics on the proposal and review the elector assent process, which will be a petition. In addition to the public meeting, an information package will be prepared and sent to property owners within the proposed expanded service area.

Tie Lake Water Level Control Bylaw Amendment given three readings


The board passed three readings to an amendment to the Tie Lake Water Level Control Local Service Establishment Bylaw. The amendment increases the maximum requisition for the Service Area to cover the cost of the Tie Lake Dam Upgrade Project. The Project has received approximately 80% funding through the Community Works Fund. The Bylaw Amendment will now be sent to the Inspector of Municipalities for review and approval. If approved, it will come back before the RDEK Board for adoption. The dam must be upgraded to meet regulatory requirements.

Application to be submitted for Feasibility Study

A grant application will be submitted to the BC Rural Dividend Program for $10,000 to do a feasibility study for proposed public boat accesses and toilet facilities along the Columbia River from Fairmont Hot Springs to Spillimacheen.

Kimberley Rural OCP and Public Hearing

The board gave Bylaw No. 2760 – Kimberley Rural Official Community Plan first and second reading and authorized a public hearing for 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 24 at the Kimberley Centennial Hall. The OCP was over one year in the making and takes into consideration the input and advice of area residents and other stakeholders in the plan area. Rural OCPs provide long range and strategic guidance for land use conservation and change in the area covered by the plan, and are usually reviewed by the RDEK every five to 15 years. If adopted, the new OCP will replace the previous OCP for the area, which was completed in 2006.

Funding approved from Clean Water and Wastewater Fund

The Moyie Water Main Replacement Project has been approved for $174,220 and the Lake Baptiste Dam Upgrade Project has been approved for $417,330 from the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund. The RDEK has amended the Five-Year Financial Plan to reflect the approval of these funds.

Booth nominated as RDEK representative to CBT Board

Electoral Area F Director Wendy Booth has been nominated as the RDEK representative to the Columbia Basin Trust Board of Directors. Director Booth is the RDEK’s current representative on the Board. The nomination is required as her current term soon expires.

Fairmont Path to be designated as Area F Regional Trail

Subject to the RDEK’s acceptance of each phase of the completed trail, the Fairmont Path will be designated as an Electoral Area F Regional Trail. The Fairmont Community Association has raised approximately $87,000 of the estimated $115,000 required to construct phase one of a two-phase trail project, which will connect the Fairmont Hot Springs commercial area to Fairmont Creek Road near the Fairmont Fire Hall.

Elk Valley Victims Assistance

The agreement with Jennifer Asselin for the delivery of the Elk Valley Victim Assistance Program has been extended to March 31, 2018.

Funding for EK Division of Family Practice

A $20,000 General Administration grant has been approved for the EK Division of Family Practice to support recruitment and retention of family physicians for the years 2017 and 2018.

Discretionary Grants-in-Aid (DGIA)

The Horse Association of Central Kootenay will receive $500 from the Electoral Area B DGIA account for shows and youth clinics in the Baynes Lake area.

The Rocky Mountain Wakesurfing Association will receive $1,000 from the Electoral Area B DGIA account for the Koocanusa Wakesurf Challenge this summer.

The Moyie Community Association will receive $1,000 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account to purchase new books for the Moyie Reading Centre.

The Cranbrook Lions Club will receive $1,000 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account for its Seniors Tour and Tea at the Cranbrook History Centre in June.

The Wardner Community Association will receive $5,000 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account for the Trans Canada Trail/ Great Trail Celebration that will kick off in Wardner June 30 and July 1.

The Columbia Lake Stewardship Society will receive $1,540 from the Electoral Area F DGIA account for workshop and website development.

Public Meetings and Reminders

Baynes Lake Information Meeting re: Changes to the South Country Zoning & Floodplain Management Bylaw on May 24 from 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Baynes Lake Community Hall. There will be information posters, along with a brief presentation by sta to review proposed changes to the South Country Zoning & Floodplain Management Bylaw including changes related to home-based business regulations and secondary suites.

Jaffray & Elko Area OCP Comment Period Deadline

The comment period deadline for the draft of the Jaffray & Elko Area Official Community Plan is May 31 at 11:59 p.m. We need to hear your feedback. If we don’t know the issues, we can’t address them. Get your comments in to Karen Macleod by May 31. For a link to the comment form and more information, click HERE.

Jaffray Fire Expansion: Wardner and portions of Bull River and Mayook

June 1 – 7 – 9 p.m. at Wardner Community Hall
. This public meeting will provide information on the proposal to expand the Jaffray Fire Protection Service Area to include Wardner and portions of Mayook and Bull River. Staff will provide a detailed overview of the proposal and the community assent process.

Public Hearings

Wednesday, May 24 – 7 p.m. at Fernie Family Centre at 521 4th Avenue, Fernie –

Bylaw No. 2738 – Regional District of East Kootenay – Elk Valley Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2532, 2014 – Amendment Bylaw No. 4, 2016 (Lizard Creek / 0819038 BC Ltd. & Knauf )

–and–

Bylaw No. 2739 – Regional District of East Kootenay – Elk Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 829, 1990 – Amendment Bylaw No. 83, 2016 (Lizard Creek / 0819038 BC Ltd. & Knauf )

Wednesday, May 24 – 7 p.m. at Kimberley Centennial Hall at 100 – 4th Avenue, Kimberley –

Bylaw No. 2754 – Regional District of East Kootenay – Electoral Area E Zoning and Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2502, 2014 – Amendment Bylaw No. 11, 2017 (Text Amendment / RDEK)

–and–

Bylaw No. 2760 – Regional District of East Kootenay – Kimberley Rural Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2760, 2017 -and-

Bylaw No. 2761 – Regional District of East Kootenay – Electoral Area E Zoning and Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2502, 2014 – Amendment Bylaw No. 13, 2017 (Miscellaneous / RDEK)

Wednesday, May 24 at 7 p.m. at Baynes Lake Community Hall at 468 Jaffray-Baynes Lake Road, Baynes Lake

Bylaw No. 2780 – cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – South Country Zoning and Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2320, 2011 – Amendment Bylaw No. 12, 2017 (Baynes Lake / Crown)

Thursday, May 25 at 4 p.m. at Regional District of East Kootenay – Board Room, 19 – 24th Avenue South, Cranbrook –

Bylaw No. 2746 – Regional District of East Kootenay – Wycliffe Zoning and Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2256, 2010 – Amendment Bylaw No. 12, 2016 (Wycliffe / Three Bars Ranch)

NEXT BOARD MEETINGS

Thursday, June 8 – Committee Meetings, TBA

Friday, June 9 – RDEK Board Meeting 9 a.m.

RDEK

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