The following is a synopsis of what occurred during the Nov. 10 Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors’ meeting.

Chair and vice chair acclaimed

Electoral Area C Director Rob Gay has been re-elected as Chair and Electoral Area F Director Susan Clovechok has been re-elected Vice Chair for the coming year following the annual election at the November board meeting. Both were elected by acclamation. This will be Gay’s 13th term as Chair and Clovechok’s fourth term as Vice Chair.

Seeking changes to funding eligibility

A letter will be sent to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs explaining the importance of aquifer capacity assessment to support residential development in rural areas, and urging the province to include aquifer studies as an eligible use for the Growing Communities Fund.

Growing Communities Fund allocation deferred

The distribution of the Growing Communities Fund will be revisited by the RDEK Board at its December meeting to determine how the funds will be allocated. The funding allocation must be submitted to the province by December 31.

Baynes Lake hydrant repairs to proceed

A design for the repair and upgrade of the Baynes Lake dry hydrant will move forward after $6,500 was approved for the project from the Baynes Lake Fire Vehicle and Equipment Reserve Fund. The repairs are required due to the lower lake levels in Baynes Lake creating sedimentation and build-up of the existing hydrant. Dry hydrants are non-pressurized pipes installed within a water source that allow fire trucks to draw water for firefighting.

Grant application for training and equipment

An application will be submitted to the Union of BC Municipalities for a Community Preparedness Grant in the amount of $228,900 for the purchase of new and replacement equipment for the RDEK’s Fire Services. If approved, the funding would enhance the resiliency and emergency response capabilities of the Baynes Lake, Edgewater, Elko, Fairmont Hot Springs, Hosmer, Jaffray, Panorama, and Windermere Fire Departments by replacing equipment that has reached the end of its service life, and adding training equipment that could be shared regionally to enhance training and improve response capability.

Sparwood Transfer Station contract awarded

The contract for the operation of the Sparwood Transfer Station and Landfill Operations has been awarded to GFL Environmental Inc.

Minor development variance permits

The board authorized the creation of a new approval stream for development variance permits. Minor variances as identified in the new bylaw will now be eligible to be approved by a delegated staff person. This new stream will expedite the processing of these minor variances.

Discretionary grants-in-aid (DGIA)

The Key City Theatre Society will receive $11,000 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account to help sustain the ongoing operational costs of Key City Theatre.

UPCOMING PUBLIC HEARINGS

BYLAW No. 3267 – COLUMERE – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1992 – Amendment Bylaw No. 396, 2023 (Columere / Rivard-Warner)” will amend the zone designation of Lot A, District Lot 344, Kootenay District, Plan 16473 from A-1, Rural Resource Zone to A-2, Rural Residential (Country) Zone.

The public hearing will be held via Zoom: Tuesday, November 28 at 7 p.m.

Register in advance for this webinar by November 24 at 4:30 p.m.

Lead image: Electoral Area C Director Rob Gay has been re-elected as RDEK Board Chair and Electoral Area F Director Susan Clovechok has been re-elected Vice Chair. RDEK file photo

RDEK

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