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Community forest says no

WBCF votes not to approve request from Area E director Vicki Gee to be included as a shareholder
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Midway council met for the first regular meeting of April on Tuesday, April 7, moved from Monday night because of the Easter weekend.

Community forest turns down Area E

At a meeting March 18, shareholders of the West Boundary Community Forest (WBCF) voted to not approve a request from Area E director Vicki Gee that Area E be included as a shareholder in the West Boundary Community Forest.

The letter turning her down listed several considerations the shareholders had weighed in their decision, including the opinion of the WBCF board of directors, which they had solicited.

Gee wrote back questioning some of the reasons given for the refusal. She said she had consulted with the CAO of the RDKB about her request and feels that some of the discussion points raised by the shareholders “do not reflect the capacity for regional districts to be involved in various enterprises and in community forests in particular.”

“There is no guarantee that the RDKB board would support inclusion of Area E as shareholder. I am disappointed though that there was no opportunity to explore possible conditions of inclusion,” Gee wrote.

Council voted not to change their position from that agreed to at the April 18 meeting.

How big a welcome are we talking?

A draft agreement between the village and the school district that would see a welcome circle constructed by David Seven Deers in the Entwined Trees Park has been sent back to staff with instructions the dimensions of the site be included in the agreement.

Renovation project at arena concession

Councillor Gary Schierbeck asked council to consider moving ahead now with renovations to the arena concession that were discussed last year. The proposal is to move the east wall of the concession three feet out into the lobby. This would allow a private entrance to the kitchen.

Administrator Penny Feist seemed taken by surprise by the request, saying that while the project had been discussed it hadn’t been voted on, nor had it been the subject of budget planning. She asked if it could be put it off for another year.

“Right now we are trying to get something going on the community hall which is likely to chew up any money we have,” said Mayor Randy Kappes. He also noted a Riverfront Park project that is expected to cost over $100,000 this year.

Council directed Feist to contact the building inspector and find out what requirements he would have for the project and to report to the next meeting.

Comfort letter to be registered on land title

Some years ago three things happened in Midway. When the village was originally drawn up, Chamblet was to be the main street, and it was therefore made wider than other streets. But when the provincial bridge building crew came to town they put the bridge across at Florence Street.

And finally, sometime in the past the house at 555 – 5th Ave. was constructed with the room on the southeast corner extending about a meter into the road allowance.

A 2001 comfort letter from the village for the property states the village has no plans to make use of the full width of street allowance on the Chamblet side of the lot. At the request of the homeowner this letter will be registered with the land titles office.

Road rescue and flagging

Feist reported with West Boundary Road Rescue’s request for council support in ensuring members are allowed to remain at an accident scene performing flagging duties until highways can get a crew on site seems to be making headway. Ministry of Highways has asked the village to arrange a meeting between Emcon, WBRR, Ministry of Highways, RCMP, ambulance and the fire chiefs for Midway and Greenwood to discuss the issue.

BEDC sets 2015 work plan

Councillor Marguerite Rotvold reported that the Boundary Economic Development Committee has set its priorities for the coming year, which are the Trans Canada Trail and agriculture.

Hospital reserve fund filling up

Rotvold also told council that the West Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital District had approved their budget for the year and that it includes putting $1.5 million into the reserve fund for future construction.

“The impact on the owner of a $100,000 home would be $2 a year,” said Rotvold. She added that the reserve fund has almost reached the $10 million cap that was set for it. “So next year the directors will be discussing an increase to our cap,” she said. She noted that renovations in the Trail hospital alone would be $40 million.