APC member thanked

Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Board Chair Rob Gay Oct. 4 recognized Roger Selby for his 13 year’s of service as a volunteer member of the Electoral Area C Advisory Planning Commission and Electoral Area Advisory Commission. Selby was presented with a token of the board’s appreciation.

Home-Based Business Regs move to public hearing in some areas; not all

Bylaw amendments concerning the regulation of home-based businesses in the RDEK are proceeding to public hearing in October.

The regulations affect Electoral Areas C, E, F and G as well as the Jaffray area in Electoral Area B. The board postponed consideration of any changes to the regulation of home-based businesses in Electoral Area A pending a discussion of the proposed amendments at the upcoming Area A Town Hall meeting. Details regarding the upcoming public hearings will be available on the RDEK website and advertised in local newspapers.

Proposed JimSmith Lake Subdivision proceeds to public hearing

The board gave first and second reading to OCP and zoning bylaw amendments to permit an 11-lot subdivision in the JimSmith Lake Area. A public hearing on Bylaws No. 2486 and 2487 will be held at the RDEK office in Cranbrook on October 24 at 7 p.m.

Edgewater meeting to discuss Recreation Service Area

A meeting will be held in the community of Edgewater to discuss a proposal that they be included in the Columbia Valley Recreation Service Area. If Edgewater were to be included, operational funding for the Frank Schnider Memorial Rink would be provided through the Columbia Valley Recreation Service. A date for the meeting has not yet been set.

Board moves to protect Baptiste Lake from activity

The RDEK will request the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations establish a Section 16 Land Act Map Reserve over Baptiste Lake for the purpose of providing additional protection for the lake’s primary use as a reservoir. In addition, an application will be submitted for Community and Institutional Land Act tenure over the lake for a Water Reservoir. Baptiste Lake is the drinking water source for the community of Edgewater and recently a developer who owns property around the lake constructed some docks, prompting the RDEK to seek additional protection for the water source.

MOU signed for new Broadband Committee

The board chair has been authorized to sign the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the establishment of a Regional Broadband Committee. The Broadband Committee will collaborate to develop a vision for a broadband network throughout the Columbia Basin and to provide direction for the development of a Regional Broadband Strategy. The committee will consist of representatives from the RDEK, Regional District of Central Kootenay, Columbia Shuswap Regional District,  Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, Ktunaxa Nation Council and Village of Valemount.

Cherry Creek Falls Park included in parks plan

Cherry Creek Falls Regional Park has been designated as an Electoral Area E Regional Park. The 35.8-acre parcel of land was originally part of a mineral claim. The claim was purchased by the Meadowbrook Community Association in an effort to preserve the area. The RDEK has applied for tenure over the land in the vicinity of the falls to make it part of our Regional Parks system.

Minister thanked

The Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development is being thanked for the $10,000 infrastructure planning grant for the Spur Valley Groundwater Study.

New hours for Elkford Transfer Station

The Elkford Transfer Station will have new hours of operation. Effective immediately, the Transfer Station will be open Tuesday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round.

RDEK to attend gala

Columbia Valley Services Committee Chair, District of Invermere Mayor Gerry Taft and Kootenay Conservation Program Manager Dave Hillary will attend the Real Estate Foundation of BC Land Awards Gala later this month. The RDEK’s Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund has been named as a 2013 Land Award Finalist.

Ministry asked to install signage

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will be asked to install signage at all locations where wildlife carcasses are disposed of. The locations are currently not marked and the RDEK is hoping signage will be installed to alert the public and minimize the risk of human/wildlife interaction at these sites.

CPR requested to reduce idling

A letter will be sent to Canadian Pacific Railway requesting that locomotive engines not idle for extended periods near residential areas. The community of Wasa reported locomotives running for 48 hours at a time over the winter months creating extensive noise and exhaust fumes.

Discretionary Grant-in-Aid (DGIA) funding

– The Royal Canadian Legion Fernie Branch and Sparwood Branch will receive $45 each from the Electoral Area A DGIA account for the Poppy Remembrance Campaign.

– The Cranbrook and District Chamber of Commerce will receive $2,000 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account to support local athlete Gordon McArthur’s participation in the 2014 Olympic Games.

– The Summit Community Services Society will receive $2,000 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account and $1,000 from the Electoral Area E DGIA account for the Police Based Victim Services Program.

Public meetings

Area F Town Hall Meeting

Thursday, October 17 —7 p.m. at Windermere Community Hall.

Area B Town Hall Meeting & Volunteer of the Year Celebration for Gary Mitchell

Thursday, October 24 —7 p.m.at Jaffray Community Hall.

Area A Town Hall Meeting & Volunteer of the Year Celebration for Judith Johannsson

Monday, October 28—7:30 p.m. at Fernie Family Centre.

Columbia Valley Community Directed Funds Committee

October 22 —11 a.m. at Windermere Fire Hall.

Elk Valley Community Directed Funds Committee

December 3 – 2 p.m. at Fernie City Hall.

RDEK Public Hearings

Tuesday, October 22 — 4 p.m. at Baynes Lake Community Hall, 468 Jaffray-Baynes Lake Road, Baynes Lake

Bylaw 2494—Regional District of East Kootenay – Baynes Lake Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2319, 2011 – Amendment Bylaw No. 3, 2013 (Chief David Road / Feigs) – and –

Bylaw 2495—Regional District of East Kootenay – South Country Zoning and Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2320, 2011 – Amendment Bylaw No. 5, 2013 (Chief David Road / Feigs)

Tuesday, October 22 —7 p.m. at Jaffray Community Hall, 7375 Jaffray Village Loop Road, Jaffray.

Bylaw 2464—Regional District of East Kootenay – Jaffray, Tie Lake, Rosen Lake Land Use and Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 1414, 1999 – Amendment Bylaw No. 21, 2013 (Minor HBB / RDEK)

Wednesday, October 23 —7 p.m. at Wasa Community Hall, 6171 Wasa School Road, Wasa

Bylaw 2462—Regional District of East Kootenay – Wasa – Ta Ta Creek – Skookumchuck – Sheep Creek Land Use Bylaw No. 1625, 2002 – Amendment Bylaw No. 21, 2013 (Minor HBB / RDEK) – and –

Bylaw 2463—Regional District of East Kootenay – Kimberley Rural Zoning & Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 1925, 2006 – Amendment Bylaw No. 15, 2013 (Minor HBB / RDEK)

Thursday, October 24 —7 p.m. at Windermere Community Hall, 4726 North Street, Windermere

Bylaw 2492—Regional District of East Kootenay – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1992 –Amendment Bylaw No. 289, 2013 (Boat House Deck/RDEK) – and –

Bylaw 2461—Regional District of East Kootenay – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1992 – Amendment Bylaw No. 285, 2012 (Minor HBB / RDEK) – and –

Bylaw 2484—Regional District of East Kootenay – Lake Windermere Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2061, 2008 – Amendment Bylaw No. 14, 2013 (ESA DPA/RDEK)

Next board meetings

Thursday October 31 –  Committee Meetings TBA

Friday November 1 – RDEK Board Meeting 9 a.m.

For more information on RDEK meetings, programs and services, please visit our website: www.rdek.bc.ca

You can also follow us on Facebook. Just “like” our page and let the news come to you!

HIGHLIGHTS is a monthly publication of the Regional District of East Kootenay. The Regional board meets on the first Friday of each month (subject to periodic change) at the RDEK office in Cranbrook. Board meetings are open to the public. For more information on this publication, contact Loree Duczek at [email protected] or visit www.rdek.bc.ca

RDEK

---

Article Share

---