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City to look outside the box for wastewater solution
Kimberley City Council Report
By Nowell Berg
On January 27, City of Kimberley council held its regular bi-monthly meeting.
Councillors Kyle Dalum, Kent Goodwin, Nigel Kitto, Jason McBain, Darryl Oakley and Sandra Roberts were present along with Mayor Don McCormick.
Financial update includes funding for wastewater treatment alternatives study
Chief financial officer (CFO) Jim Hendricks updated council on the 2019 fourth quarter city finances. In short: “The good news story is entirely related to building permit revenue which is $270,000 for 2019,” said Hendricks. He added, “The bottom line is that expenditures were under-budget on everything and revenues on a few line items, we collected more than anticipated.”
Council also approved a change to the 2019-2023 Financial Plan that allocates $40,000 for the city to hire a consultant to look into “alternatives” to the wastewater treatment plant. This would be “a feasibility study to explore other, potentially less costly, solutions.”
The mayor elaborated, “While engineering is going on, the estimates that are coming back are $45 million to $55 million, no matter what technology used. The feeling around council is that if we are going to spend $50 million [on a wastewater treatment plant], we should be looking at some outside the box ideas, something that is different than replacing the plant. In other words, if you look at replacing the plant you put yourself in a certain box, but if you look at how to deal with wastewater, it’s something entirely different. So, we’re stepping back from that and trying to deal with wastewater that is a little more innovative and a whole lot less expensive for taxpayers.”
Centre 64 Mural
At this stage it’s just a letter of support for Kimberley Arts Council (KAC), which is seeking grant funding for a mural on the south wall at Centre 64. It’s the wall facing the north entrance to the Platzl. KAC requires a letter from the city because it owns the building. Council approved the letter of support for the grant application to Columbia Basis Trust’s Public Art Grant program.
KAC has selected local artist Joseph Cross to paint the mural.
His mural work can be seen at a College of the Rockies lecture theatre and climbing wall, the “Valour Remembered,” which is painted on the backside of the Wall of Honour in Rotary Park in Cranbrook, and the north wall of the Discovery Centre in Canal Flats, among others.
Council Supports KYAN Climate Event
The Kimberley Youth Action Network (KYAN) asked council to sponsor the Environmental Action Team’s planned event – Climate Change Solutions. The sponsorship would include an $80 donation to cover the rental cost for Centre 64.
Council approved the KYAN request.
The guest speaker for the event will be Laura Sacks. She will present her talk Climate Change Solutions – Must We Change? Can We Change? Will We Change?
Sacks is a climate advocate from Nelson who won the 2019 Suzy Hamilton Legacy Award, it’s given to those who work at protecting the environment. Sacks will also be making her presentation at the College of the Rockies (Feb. 11) and Selkirk Secondary School on the 12th.
The KYAN event will be held on Wednesday, February 12, at 7 p.m. at Centre 64.
Kimberley city council meets twice monthly starting at 7 p.m., open to the public.
The next scheduled council meeting is February 10 at City Hall.
Lead image: Artist rendering of proposed Centre 64 mural supplied by Joseph Cross and the City of Kimberley.
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