The following is a synopsis of some of the items covered by the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Board of Directors during their Feb. 13 meeting.

DRAFT 2026-2030 FINANCIAL PLAN OPEN FOR COMMENT

The board has completed its first review of the draft 2026-2030 Financial Plan and is now hoping to gather input from residents. The plan, which lays out how tax dollars are being spent on the more than 100 services offered in the RDEK, reflects a taxation increase over last year that works out to approximately $26 on an average ($623,000) residential property for shared services. In the regional district model, municipalities and electoral areas are all affected differently depending on which RDEK services they receive. Copies of the draft plan and a summary “Snapshot” of the 2026 budget highlights are available on engage.rdek.bc.ca/budget. A comment form is also available on that page and on request from the RDEK. Comments on the draft Five-Year Plan can be submitted until noon on Monday, March 9.

HOSMER FIRE HALL – LOCATION DECISION MADE

The board has approved a decision to move forward with constructing a new, purpose-built fire hall for the Hosmer Fire Department on property located at the intersection of Dicken and Kmiecik Road, subject to an agreement to purchase the land, required bylaw amendments and subdivision. The decision follows an extended review process that included technical assessments, community input, and the evaluation of multiple options for the future of fire services infrastructure for the Hosmer area. (Lead image: Hosmer Fire Hall.)

STR REGULATION REVIEW DECISION

Following consideration of options for proceeding with review and analysis of current RDEK Short Term Rental (STR) regulations and policy, the board passed a resolution that directed public consultation on potential changes to be completed in conjunction with the proposed development of a business licencing program. The evaluation and establishment of a business licencing program, including STR regulation, is an identified 2027 project.

SOUTH MOYIE BYLAW REFUSED

The board considered Bylaw No. 3441 to allow a parcel specific amendment to permit a second recreational vehicle in the South Moyie area. Following consideration of the requested amendment and the responses to the public notice process the Board did not support the bylaw amendment and the application was refused.

COLUMBIA VALLEY LOCAL CONSERVATION FUND PROJECTS APPROVED

The following projects were approved for funding from the Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund for 2026:

• 10,000 Wetlands Initiative: Low-Tech Process-Based Restoration in the Columbia Valley – $10,000;
• Bat Roost Habitat Enhancement and Monitoring in the Columbia Valley (2026) – $24,438;
• Columbia Valley Bank Swallow Habitat Conservation – $19,996;
• Lake Windermere Monitoring and Education – $16,500;
• Restoration of Wetlands and Wildlife Habitat – $22,000;

In addition, the following projects have been approved for multi-year funding:

• Columbia Lake Bighorn Sheep Project: Year one of three – $19,263;
• Columbia Lake Water Monitoring and Education Program: Year one of three – $16,000;
• Kootenay River Headwater Restoration: Year two of three – $7,500;
• Reimagining the Ties that Bind Wildlife Conservation to Farming: Year one of three – $5,000;
• Strategic Initiative Plant Control of Leafy Spurge: Year two of three – $11,455.

GROWING COMMUNITIES FUNDS RE-ALLOCATED

$1.23 million of the Growing Communities Fund grant has been re-allocated to Edgewater Water System upgrades, Edgewater Sewer System upgrades, and the East Side Lake Windermere Water System watermain replacement and utility master plan projects. The funds became available for re-allocation after the Cold Spring Creek Debris Flow Mitigation Project was completed under budget.

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AWARDED FOR WATERMAIN REPLACEMENT

TwinCon Enterprises has been awarded the construction contract for the Wood Lane Watermain Replacement in Windermere. The project includes the replacement of watermain, isolation valves, fire hydrants, service connections, and other components on Wood Lane and is expected to get underway later this spring.

SPARWOOD DRY LANDFILL SET TO CLOSE ONCE CAPACITY IS REACHED

A recent lifespan analysis has updated the estimated capacity left in the active dry landfill located on the same property as the Sparwood Transfer Station. The landfill accepts only commercial construction/demolition type waste as all other waste is handled through the transfer station and hauled off site for burial. Landfilling will cease in 2027 once landfill capacity has been reached and the 2026-2030 financial plan will be amended to include the addition of a facility to accept commercial construction and demolition waste.

FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE AGREEMENTS RENEWED

The Chair and CAO have been authorized to sign an agreement with the District of Invermere to provide fire protection services for the Invermere Rural Fire Protection Service Area and Wilmer/Lower Toby Bench Fire Protection Service Area through 2030; and with the City of Fernie to extend the term of the current agreement through June 30, 2026 for the Fernie Rural Fire Protection Area while a longer term agreement is reached.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GRANT TO BE SUBMITTED

A grant application for up to $150,000 will be submitted to the Union of BC Municipalities Emergency Preparedness Fund. If approved, the funding would go toward radio communication upgrades, Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) training for emergency management personnel around the region, a full-scale exercise in the Elk Valley in the spring, and IT and equipment upgrades for the EOC.

UTILITY ADVISORY COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS MADE

The following people have been re-appointed to their respective Utility Advisory Commissions (UACs) for two-year terms ending in February 2028.

Spur Valley Water System UAC: Rob Dickson, Donna Douey, Brandon Csokonay, Bruce Kaufman and Vaughn Taylor.

Edgewater Water & Sewer System UAC: George Thierbach, Michael Hutchinson, Gerry Wilkie, Kristian Baker and Scott Ivers.

East Side Lake Windermere Water System UAC: Sherry Avery, Oliver Egan, and Andy Prefontaine.

Utility Advisory Commissions provide input to the Area Director and staff on the operations and maintenance of their system.

DISCRETIONARY GRANTS IN AID

The Columbia Valley Minor Baseball Association will receive $5,000 from the Electoral Area F and $2500 from the Electoral Area G DGIA programs to enhance youth baseball development through advanced training equipment.

The Kootenay Livestock Association will receive $250 from the Electoral Area B, $1,250 from the Electoral Area C and $500 from the Electoral Area E DGIA programs.

The South Star Recreation Society will receive $886 from the Electoral Area C DGIA program for equipment repairs.

The Cities of Cranbrook and Kimberley will receive $22,500 from the Electoral Area C and $2,500 from the Electoral Area E DGIA programs for 2026 for repair, maintenance and enhancements of the NorthStar Rail Trail. This is a multi-year DGIA and will include inflationary increases for the years 2027-2030.

NEXT BOARD MEETINGS

March 12 – RDEK Committee Meetings TBA

March 13 – RDEK Board Meeting 9 a.m.

March 13 – Kootenay East Regional Hospital District Board Meeting 12 p.m.

To view all the upcoming meetings and notices, visit the Meetings & Notices page on www.rdek.bc.ca

e-KNOW file photos

RDEK

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