Kimberley City Council Report

by Nowell Berg

On October 15, City of Kimberley council held its regular bi-monthly meeting.

Councilors Sue Cairns, Kevin Dunnebacke, Diana Fox and Sandra Roberts were present along with Mayor Don McCormick. Coun. Woody Maguire and Jason McBain were in attendance via video link.

An archive of the meeting can be found on the City of Kimberley YouTube channel. Watch it here.

Diana Fox Wins By-election

Diana Fox was declared the winner of the September 21 by-election held to replace Mr. Royer following his resignation last spring.

Maryse Leroux, Chief Electoral Officer, told council that Fox received 441 votes out of a total of 1,489 votes cast (23.4% of eligible voters).

The city’s voter list now contains 6,357 registered voters.

Fox swore the oath of office in front of the Mayor and Councilors, and then participated in her first council meeting.

RCMP Report

Sgt. Steve Woodcox presented an overview on his written report covering detachment activities for the second quarter (July – September 2024) of the RCMP’s fiscal year.

Woodcox noted a 20% increase in calls for service that is “quite an increase from the year before.” This past summer the local detachment received 595 calls compared to 500 during the same time last year.

Woodcox told council that “impaired driving continues to be a problem.” He reported that 350 road checks were conducted and 85 tickets were issued.

Along with impaired driving, “erratic drivers” were a big concern. Woodcox said, “even driving on the highways is becoming dangerous. People are impatient while driving, and that continues to be a problem and that’s were I will put more resources and try and combat that.”

After receiving several requests, Woodcox held a presentation (Oct. 7) on implementing a block watch program in Kimberley. Up to 30 people attended the meeting. Woodcox reported that residents can expect to see several block watch programs set up around town.

In early October, Woodcox reported there were five or six thefts from vehicles in Marysville. He noted his officers have identified an individual from Cranbrook who is coming to town and targeting vehicles left open. “This is a crime of opportunity,” Woodcox said.

Coun. Dunnebacke asked about an assault in the Platzl mentioned in Woodcox’s report.

Woodcox confirmed that “a female was assaulted by a male known to her.” The assault was witnessed, and the culprit “arrested moments after that at his residence.” Charges are being laid.

Responding to a question from Coun. Cairns about people is distress, Woodcox said, “I can tell you, people are having a hard time paying bills. People are having a hard time putting food on the table.” He said that officers regularly attend calls where people are in mental distress.

Waste Water Treatment Plant another step closer

Council unanimously adopted the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) borrowing Bylaw. The city will soon have access to $35 million in interim funding to help with the construction of the new facility.

City electors approved the borrowing bylaw in a October 2022 referendum. Since then, the city received confirmation of a federal and provincial grant worth $66.5 million representing 73.3% of the total construction cost. The city will be responsible for the remaining funds for the project.

According to Chief Financial Officer Krista Waite, the city needs the bylaw’s authority “so that the cash requirements for the project can be met without negatively impacting the funds available for routine operations.”

The city is responsible for paying project costs up-front as they occur before they can access the grant funding.

In other financial news, council made a number of budgetary adjustments regarding the Civic Centre and Curling Rink Chiller and Compressor Replacement Project (CCRP).

City staff have identified a grant program (the federal government’s Green and Inclusive Community Building Fund) that, if successful, would cover 80% of the CCRP project costs ($1.1 million). Under this scenario, the city’s portion would be $274,400, which would come from the General Operating Capital Reserve fund.

In the staff report to council, the chiller and compressor replacements have been identified as “most urgent.’ If this equipment, which is at the end of its life-cycle, is not replaced “their failure could result in facility closures or present life safety issues.”

If the grant application is not successful, then council would be asked to make another adjustment to the five-year financial plan that would re-instate funding, but shift the source to the Growing Communities Fund reserve.

Kimberley city council assembles twice monthly starting at 7 p.m. The next regular council meeting: October 28.

e-KNOW file photos

e-KNOW

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