Close to 30 people showed up in Beaverdell last week for a town hall meeting on a night when roads were not the best for travel.
Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) Area E Director Bill Baird was joined by CAO John MacLean, director of corporate administration Elaine Kumar, board chair Grace McGregor and Kettle River Management Plan coordinator Graham Watt.
Baird opened the meeting and quickly turned it over to MacLean, who presented a PowerPoint that explained the role of regional districts and how they provide and fund services.
He said one purpose of the meeting was to go through the draft budget and answer any questions.
A quick review of the latest census figures shows that while the RDKB as a whole increased in population by 1.3 per cent between 2006 and 2011 (to a total of 31,138 residents), the population of Area E fell by 11.8 per cent to 2,234 residents.
Area E has two town hall meetings each spring—one in Big White and the other in another community in the electoral area.
In terms of assessment, Big White is worth $498,770,624 or more than 57 per cent of total assessed value of Area E; the remainder of the electoral area is valued at $366,019,208 (42 per cent of Area E).
The entire slideshow is available online at rdkb.com under the link “Town hall meeting schedule 2014.”
MacLean said that for this November’s local government election is the option of a mail-in ballot for those unable to make it to the polls during one of the regularly scheduled or early polling opportunities to cast their ballot. He directed those interested to contact Theresa Lenardon, Chief Elections Officer for the regional district, at 250-368-0225 or toll-free at 1-800-355-7352.
The Area E Advisory Planning Commission (APC) appointments for 2014 are Grant Harfman, Denise Herdman, John Condon, George Dagg, Vic Lockhart and Michael Fenwick-Wilson, with George Delisle an alternate director. Big White has their own APC.
Area E grant-in-aid to community groups for 2013 totaled $68, 918. The two largest grants this year were $10,000 each to the Kettle Valley Golf Club and the Midway Volunteer Fire Department. A complete list of grants is available in the town hall PowerPoint presentation on the RDKB website.
Elizabeth Des Mazes from Westbridge, a trustee with the Midway Public Library, stood to read a letter asking Baird to meet with the Midway Regional Library Board to discuss funding. “We respectfully ask that you consider the fact that Midway regional library is servicing a uniquely large service area in the district that you represent,” she read.
She pointed out that the Midway ‘regional’ library, which is staffed by one part-time staff person and help from dedicated volunteers, is facing decreasing funding from the province and ever-increasing expenses. “In 2012 operating expenditures for our library totaled $50,796. In 2014 that jumped to $54,533.”
She said the library struggles to raise funds and is operating at a deficit. She explained that the library is open to all school-age children and that the library works in the schools on projects such as the Reading Link Challenge and reading clubs.
Baird was told the board has increased the annual fee per family not residing in Midway by $10 to $30. Des Mazes noted the village of Midway calculates the library costs $45 for a family living within the community boundaries.
“Libraries are an essential part of any community,” said Des Mazes in closing. “We appreciate meeting with you. We are in midst of strategic planning and would like your expertise.”
Des Mazes was given a round of applause after reading the letter. Baird also promised to meet with the board.
The draft five-year financial plan was presented for comment. MacLean said it is scheduled for adoption on March 20.
Two main areas of the budget that will increase this year. Electoral area administration is one but, “That is pretty basic – it is an election year and we budget $45,000 in an election year,” explained MacLean.
The second is the Boundary Economic Development Committee, which will see Area E residents contribution increasing from $33,422 to $46,265. One of the major projects of the BEDC this year is the opening of a visitor centre in Rock Creek.
MacLean said major initiatives now underway by the RDKB include a planned ramping-up of programs to divert organics from the landfills and a review of the Solid Waste Management Plan, which will be completed by the end of this year. He suggested anyone wanting more information on either initiative should contact Alan Stanley, general manager of environmental services for the regional district.
Other issues raised from the floor included discussion of the distance from a fire hall that can be covered by fire protection; the complaint that product stewardship programs that are supposed to divert materials from the landfills don’t work for rural residents because collection stations are not close by; the need to clear brush that blocks sightlines at the entrance to the fire hall and recycling station in Beaverdell; news that a Telus cell tower is going in, which will bring cell service and Internet to Beaverdell; and the need to control speeders both in Beaverdell and on the highways approaching from the north and south.
Baird promised to talk to Staff Sgt. Jim Harrison, RCMP detachment commander in Grand Forks.
Graham Watt, coordinator of the Kettle River Watershed Management Plan, gave a quick review of the plan to date including an invitation to attend an open house on March 11 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. in Midway that will address water conservation, storage and agricultural water issues.
Another special meeting will be held on April 15 in Grand Forks dealing with floodplain, wetland and riparian area management.
Two public meetings are planned in May to present the draft Kettle River Watershed Management Plan: May 22 in Rock Creek and May 27 in Grand Forks. Watch for further details regarding times and locations or visit http://kettleriver.ca.
Watt did note a major mining development proposal across the international boundary in the Myers Creek area. “Buckhorn Mine in Washington State (Kinross) is having a major environmental impact assessment,” said Watt. “They are doing exploration. They want to expand to the north—there are two creeks that flow into Myers Creek and then the Kettle River at Rock Creek that may be impacted.”
“There could be extensive roads and drilling and development right across the line. “This wasn’t on our radar, but we are tracking it now.”