At Monday night’s meeting of Greenwood city council, Councillor Lee Cudworth, the city’s representative to the West Boundary Community Forest, reported that they moved the start date for operations from January 2015 to January 2014, which means they can log this year instead of waiting until next year.
He said that they are planning to hire Dan McMaster of Vaagen Brothers to manage the forest.
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Councillor Darla Ashton reported on her attendance at the West Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital District (WKBRHD) meeting. She said there was “spirited debate” over the Interior Health Authority choice of renovating the existing Trail hospital as opposed to building on a new site. The estimated costs for renovation is $40 million, and $400 million for a new facility.
When contacted later for comment, WKBRHD chair Marguerite Rotvold said that the renovations could be done within 18 months; while a new facility would be completed no sooner than 10 years. “If we don’t do the upgrades we risk having to send people outside of the area for some services,” Rotvold said.
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Administrator Robin Dalziel told council that FortisBC had contacted the city to remind them that the hydro poles within the City of Greenwood belong to Fortis. “They have a “No sign policy” which is required to ensure safety of hydro workers should they have to climb a pole during an emergency,” Dalziel said in his report to council.
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Dalziel told council that work continues on having the health clinic evaluated for modifications required to move the doctor’s office upstairs.
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Dalziel said the city has received a copy of the new fire department training standards. “A copy has been forwarded to our fire chief and his comments will be forwarded to council when received,” he said.
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Council gave three readings to Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw #882. A meeting was set for 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30 for final reading. Kettle and Councillor Barry Noll both declared a perceived conflict of interest and stepped out of the room during the discussion and vote.
The bylaw will exempt (on a diminishing scale over ten years) commercial property owners along the Hwy 3 corridor from paying tax on increases to property assessment increases if they register improvements or new construction under the bylaw.