The following is a synopsis of some of the matters covered during the Dec. 6 Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors’ meeting.

Area B Intersection Lighting Service to be expanded

The board adopted the Area B Intersection Lighting Service Establishment Bylaw, which expands the Jaffray and Area Intersection Lighting Service to include all of Area B. Four intersections have been identified for future intersection lights and RDEK staff will now begin working with BC Hydro. The new intersection lights are expected to be installed in 2020.

Gay and Reinhardt acclaimed as 2020 Chair and Vice Chair

Electoral Area C Director Rob Gay has been elected for a ninth term as Chair of the RDEK Board. Village of Radium Hot Springs Mayor Clara Reinhardt (both pictured right) has been elected for a second term as Vice Chair. Both Gay and Reinhardt were acclaimed.

Petition to be held for Swansea Road property owners

The RDEK will conduct a petition for services for a portion of Swansea Road in Electoral Area F to establish a service for the construction of a watermain and to expand the East Side Lake Windermere Water System Service. The 19 affected properties are currently not serviced by a community water system. There will be additional information provided to property owners through the petition process in early 2020.

Letter to be sent to Minister regarding continued funding for Farm Advisors Program
A letter will be sent to the Minister of Agriculture requesting a decision on funding for the Kootenay Boundary Farm Advisors Program. The program provides producers with free, technical production support and information from a network of specialized resources. It has been funded by the regional districts of Kootenay Boundary, Central Kootenay and East Kootenay along with Columbia Basin Trust. The RDEK is seeking additional Provincial funding for the program moving forward.

Contract Awarded for Columbia Valley Landfill Scale Operations
Sparkling Creek Silvaculture has been awarded a five-year contract extension for the operations of the Columbia Valley Landfill Scale Shack.

Board Comments on Columbia River Treaty recommendations
The RDEK Board is recommending that an enhanced trust fund be established for the compensation of impacted communities as part of the Columbia River Treaty (CRT) negotiations. The BC CRT Local Governments’ Committee is seeking comments from local governments as the negotiation process continues.

Fire Protection Service contract extensions

The Chair and CAO have been authorized to sign the agreement with the District of Sparwood for the provision of fire protection services to the Upper Elk Valley Fire Protection Service Area for the term January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2024. The fire protection services agreement with the City of Fernie for the Fernie Rural Fire Protection Service Area has been extended to December 31, 2020.

Director Reinhardt appointed to Physician Recruitment Committee
Director Clara Reinhardt has been appointed to represent the RDEK on the Columbia Valley Physician Recruitment Project steering committee. The project will be overseen by the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Commission Appointments Made

George Thierbach, Scott Ivers and Michael Hutchinson have been re-appointed, and Roberta Schnider and Emily Mitchell have been appointed to the Edgewater Utility Advisory Commission for two-year terms.

Library Board appointments

Daneve McAffer has been appointed as the Village of Canal Flats representative on the Invermere Public Library Board, while Lee-Ann Crane and Cyndi Weltz have been appointed to the Cranbrook Public Library Board for two-year terms.

New Year’s Eve fireworks planned for Panorama

The board approved a Special Event Licence for Panorama Mountain Resort (lead image) for its New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show.

Discretionary Grants in Aid (DGIA)

The following organizations will receive grants:

• The Fernie Alpine Ski Team will receive $1,000 from the Electoral Area A DGIA account for its 2019 New Year’s Eve Fireworks.
• The Canadian Mental Health Association for the Kootenays will receive $2,500 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account for its Essential Items Project.
• The Columbia Valley Youth Soccer Association will receive $1,200 from the Electoral Area F And $300 from the Electoral Area G DGIA accounts for its Soccer Youth Skill Development Program.
• The Compassionate Friends of Canada will receive $200 from each of the Electoral Area A, B, E and F DGIA accounts and $400 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account.
• The City of Kimberley will receive $18,000 from the Electoral Area C and $2,000 from the Electoral Area E DGIA accounts for maintenance and enhancements on the NorthStar Rails-to-Trails.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

Thursday, January 2 at 7 p.m. at Jaffray Community Hall (7375 Village Loop Road, Jaffray) for – Bylaw No. 2956 – cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Jaffray, Tie Lake, Rosen Lake Land Use and Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 1414, 1999 – Amendment Bylaw No. 32, 2019 (Tie Lake / Fenwick).”

Temporary Use Permit

The RDEK Board of Directors is considering an application by EarthRite Industries Ltd. for a Temporary Use Permit for property located on Highway 3/93 in the Mayook area. If approved, the permit would allow the storage of off-premise wood mulch and up to six highway trucks on the property indicated on the application.

Comments regarding the proposed permit will be accepted until January 3, 2020. The board will consider the application at its meeting on January 10.

OTHER MEETINGS

Open House – Panorama and Area Official Community Plan

During this Open House, the draft Panorama & Area Official Community Plan will be presented.

Monday, December 30 – 2- 6 p.m. at the Panorama Fire Hall (pictured right) – Training Room 2340 Springs Cr. Road, Panorama.

NEXT BOARD MEETINGS

Thursday, January 9, 2020 – Committee Meetings TBA

Friday, January 10, 2020 – RDEK Board Meeting 9 a.m.

RDEK

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