Home »
2013 was busy and successful for RDEK: Gay
The past year was a busy one filled with successes and challenges in the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK), stated board chair, Electoral Area C director Rob Gay.
“I believe 2013 has been a successful and very busy year for directors. Some of our board’s many highlights include negotiating a three-year collective agreement with our unionized staff, successfully hosting the AKBLG annual convention, effectively dealing with a number of spring emergencies, celebrating the opening of our new board room, developing a new partnership with CBT and BC Hydro resulting in the East Kootenay Energy Diet, approving a number of new Official Community Plans, striving to work within the board’s approved strategic plan, receiving a communications award at UBCM, and hosting our Provincial Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Judith Guichon, OBC,” he stated in a report to e-KNOW.
While the regional board and staff have taken every step possible to ensure the East Kootenay is run as efficiently and wisely as possible, the work remains challenging, Gay said.
“As board chair I attend many events on the board’s behalf; always ensuring to highlight the boards accomplishments. I strive to ensure that all directors have an opportunity to fully understand and speak to any and all issues before our board, so that we might make the optimum decision for our citizens,” he said, adding, “As we all appreciate this is not always easy, nor should it be. Democracy is hard work.”
The upcoming year, with elections looming Nov. 15, will also be a busy one, Gay said.
“The RDEK Board of Directors has crafted an ambitious strategic plan for 2014,” he said, noting a recent meeting highlighted the importance of a long-standing issue regional elected officials want to tackle this year.
A public consultation meeting was held in Windermere on Dec. 30 that focused on the board’s top priority for 2014 – Windermere water – “which will ultimately lead to a vote/petition for treated water for that community,” Gay said.
Above photo: The RDEK board (with a couple Kootenay East Regional Hospital Board members) during the grand opening of the new board meeting room.
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
