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Kimberley RCMP report disturbing trend
Kimberley City Council Report
By Nowell Berg
On August 21, City of Kimberley council held its regular bi-monthly meeting.
Councillors Sue Cairns, Jason McBain and Steven Royer were present along with acting Mayor Woody Maguire. Mayor Don McCormick and Coun. Sandra Roberts attended by video link. Coun. Kevin Dunnebacke was absent.
An archive of the meeting can be found on the City of Kimberley YouTube channel. Watch it here.
RCMP Quarterly Report
Kimberley RCMP Detachment commander Sgt. Steve Woodcox presented council with a report on detachment activities from April until June 2023.
Sgt. Woodcox told council there are three priority objectives this year-traffic enforcement and road safety, youth, and social and chronic offenders.
He noted there was a recent “disturbing trend” of young people 14 – 15 years old using “meth and heroin. Drugs that will change your life forever.”
He said it was “very disturbing” that youth were able to obtain these drugs in Kimberley. He also said there had been “drug over-doses with kids this age.”
Sgt. Woodcox pointed out that “property crime was up this past year.” He told council it was a goal to “lower those numbers this year.”
With one of the key offenders already out of the area, he expects those numbers to be lower next quarter.
Compared to last year, calls for service were up 16% this year. This includes “16 reports to Crown council” for charges to be laid against offenders.
Woodcox’s report noted that Kimberley Search and Rescue was called out to help with two missing persons. Both of whom were found deceased.
He said, “The Kimberley RCMP would like to thank Kimberly SAR for their professionalism, eagerness and unwavering support.”
He singled out the SAR’s willingness to help going “door-to-door during wildfire evacuation alerts and orders.”
Organics Collection
Nik Morissette, Senior Manager of Operations, reported to council on the expansion of curbside collection, which will soon include organics.
The city received three grants to cover “a majority” of the capital costs for the expanded program. This includes the cost for collection carts, a new automated collection truck, and education /communication programs.
During this segment, Morissette introduced the new Manager of Roads, Ryan Reynolds, who recently “joined the team.”
One of the final steps in implementing the new program includes an “update” to the current Solid Waste Regulations and Fees Bylaw.
In answering Coun. Maguire question about cost increases, Morissette said, “It amounts to $35 per year per residence.”
Coun. Roberts asked about communication of the new changes. “Will there be a calendar mailed out to indicate what happens in what areas when?”
Morissette answered yes, a new calendar would be sent out prior to the final implementation in 2024.
Recreational and Facility Rental Rates
With continued inflationary trends, Senior Manager of Operations Morissette submitted a request to council for an increase in the rental rates the city charges for use of recreational facilities.
Morissette noted there has been “no increase since 2021.”
While waiting for the new recreation master plan, which will outline rental recovery rates for the future, the city needed to increase fees.
In the interim, council approved an increase of six per cent in rental rates for the remainder of 2023 and 2024. Morissette pointed out that it is not the intent of the new recreation master plan to seek “100% recovery.”
The plan will look at rental rates and user pay models with a basic tenant being “equal opportunity to use the facilities.”
Kimberley city council meets twice monthly starting at 7 p.m. The next regular council meeting: September 11.
e-KNOW file photos
e-KNOW
