At their regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 3, Midway Council adopted Bylaw No. 450, a bylaw to regulate the meetings of council and committees. The changes will see two new opportunities for those in the gallery to ask questions during a meeting—near the beginning of the meeting right after delegations/ presentations and again after mayor and council have given their own reports. When in-camera issues must be dealt with, council will meet behind closed doors immediately prior to the regular meeting.
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The Boundary District Curling Club wrote a letter to Midway council explaining that they do not generate enough cash flow to pay the premium on the building and content insurance coverage. “Our insurance premiums have increased drastically over the last number of years,” wrote president Lisa Baia. She noted they had doubled between 2007 and 2010 and then doubled again over the next three years, now costing nearly $2,500.
“We certainly understand the ramifications of having no building and content insurance; however, we are left with no alternative,” wrote Baia. “If the village can come up with any solutions we would be more than happy to discuss them, if not, please cancel our coverage with the village.”
Council directed staff to recommend the curling club apply for a grant from the Midway Partnership Fund and the letter will be placed in the budget file for further discussion by council as they develop the budget for the coming year.
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Councillor Marguerite Rotvold reported she has been re-elected as chair of the West Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital Board. She also told council that Ingrid Hempf, regional director of acute care for Kootenay Boundary with the Interior Health Authority, will be retiring in August.
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Rotvold also reported that the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) is sending two resolutions to the Association of Kootenay and Boundary Local Governments (AKBLG): That the province of B.C. provide clearer legislation that establishes respectful, reasonable and responsible guidance as to how electoral area directors and regional districts are to manage extended absences by electoral area directors due to illness or injury; and that the province of B.C. refrain from implementing any changes in the B.C. Ambulance Service response guidelines or First Responder Protocols until such time as meaningful and effective consultation with local government has occurred to ensure that the needs of the local community are being met.
The RDKB board voted to send a letter to Victoria recommending the retention of the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) as one province-wide zone; retention of the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) as a province-wide, independent administrative body with judicial powers, and; provision of an opportunity for local governments to discuss any proposed changes to the ALR with the province and the ALC.