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City council tackling wide range of items
January Mayor’s update
By Mayor Mary Giuliano
To begin the New Year I’d like to provide an update on 2013 activities starting with the 20,000-square-metre Max Turyk Field, thanks to the Province of B.C., Teck, Fernie Youth Soccer and the City of Fernie.
A large boat launch built at Dogwood Park, Splash Park and patios, addition of more flowers and decorative lighting downtown and on the highway with lighting of two large trees and gazebo in Rotary Park.
Fernie committed to the Energy Diet program reducing consumption in municipal operations and realizing significant savings. This program was also offered to the public with some assistance provided by the city.
The Leisure Services Masterplan – a long-range planning document designed to provide direction for management and development of parks and recreation facilities, program infrastructure, resources and investment over the next 10 years -was completed.
Nearly $653,000 came from the Federal Gas Tax fund to improve the wastewater treatment system that will help to protect the Elk River by allowing the city to more effectively discharge treated wastewater by extending the length of outfall by 75 meters enabling it to reach the main channel of the river. This brings compliance with the new BC Provincial municipal wastewater regulation and contributes to cleaner water in our river.
The city has completed a Liquid Waste Management Plan to plan and implement a long- term strategy for managing stormwater and sewage and prevent water related pollution and a Facility Study was also finalized.
The city has engaged Urban Systems to review the Development Cost Charge Bylaw and an interim update should be achieved in the next few months.
The city recently added an Emergency Planning Committee to put together an emergency program so as to be ready for disaster events such as floods, forest fires and from hazardous materials transported through town by highway and railroad.
This committee is fortunate to have Dr. Will Mathews as a volunteer. He has many years of experience in disaster relief and development of programs from working around the world with Red Cross.
The Official Community Plan update is almost completed after months of hard work by a dedicated committee aiding the consultants.
The members of the committee have poured over each item finely so as to make sure each one listed was Fernie-specific and a positive for the town.
Recently, council approved expenditure of $163,000 for the purchase of stage and related infrastructure funded by the Resort Municipality Initiative and new directional signage will be placed in several areas around town as a result of the Comprehensive Signage Strategy.
I chair the Elk Valley Columbia Basin Trust Community Directed Funds Committee that will soon be making the decision on how best to spend $600,000 dollars that CBT is giving us for a project that will be of benefit to residents of the Elk Valley.
I want to mention a newly formed group that is looking at the possibility of a new college campus and convention centre to Fernie and also the beautification subcommittee that is bringing art to the streets by a program to paint the dumpster bins around town that is modelled after the very successful program of art banners.
Something else being worked on by the city and the Lions Club is the possibility of finding crown land suitable as a multi -use exhibition ground for the many organizations that plan important events such as the annual Demolition Derby, music festivals etc.
In December I attended an evening with Santa at Rocky Mountain Village and it was wonderful to see residents enjoy a little attention and a gift from Santa. Thanks to Jim and Alice Booth for organizing this event and to Teck for sponsoring the gifts.
The Heritage Library hosted seniors from RMV and Fernie Academy kindergarten students last week with Anie Hepher leading a sing-along and Lori Bradish reading the story of the Curse.
Tea served in china cups and cookies followed thanks to Emma and staff of the Library.
The city has a letter dated June 4, 2013 from Mr. Gawryluk thanking Mayor and council for “Meeting with us to discuss the possibility of erecting some form of monument to acknowledge and respect those individuals who have passed away and for which there is no known place of rest.”
That same month another letter was submitted reiterating that request and suggesting, “A committee should be set up to examine this issue in detail and be comprised of representatives from all the stakeholders.”
On July 8, 2013 council adopted the Cemetery Committee’s Terms of Reference and staff was directed to “Advertise for volunteers and contact the Fernie Heritage Cemetery Society and the Fernie and District Historical Society for nomination from their organizations for council’s consideration.”
The mandate of the committee as defined in the Terms of Reference was to “Advise council on a suitable location for the placement on a monument to honour those individuals who have been laid to rest in unmarked graves” and “The primary objective of the committee is to identify a suitable location for the installation of the monument and oversee the installation requirement.”
Advertising followed and committee members appointed met January 21. Documents provided to the city by the BC Archaeological Branch indicate that a site inventory report was prepared in 2003 in relation to the area referred to by Mr. Gawryluk as the Stork Cemetery. This report indicates that the area is protected by legislation. Staff has contacted the BC Archaeological Branch to determine whether additional steps need to be taken to register the area as a historical site.
The committee will continue to work towards this mandate as requested in order to honour the people who lie in unmarked graves. It must be emphasized that the City of Fernie does not have authority to trespass on private property and the area around the little cemetery at Silver Ridge that is fenced is private property. However, at the January 27, regular council meeting council provided direction that during 2014 budget deliberations council consider a funding allocation to undertake work to delineate the boundary of the area referred to in documents provided by Mr. Gawryluk as the Stork Cemetery if that is deemed necessary by the BC Archaeological branch.
It bears repeating that the area outside of the fenced area referred to by Mr. Gawryluk as the Munroe Cemetery is privately owned by the developer of Silver Ridge and the city has no authority to undertake any works on those lands. As requested the city has allowed Mr. Gawryluk access to all cemetery records in its possession.
Ownership of St. Margaret’s Cemetery didn’t transfer to the city until 1949.
Prior to that date it was owned by the Crow’s Nest Pass Coal Co. Ltd. and the Crow’s Nest Pass Electric Light and Power Co. Ltd.
Last Tuesday STARS new helicopter came to the Elk Valley Hospital and it was greeted by many excited people.
I was very happy to have the opportunity to thank the pilot and paramedics for this lifesaving service to our area.
Lead image: STARS showcased its new AW139 at Elk Valley Hospital in Fernie Jan. 28. Carrie Schafer/e-KNOW
