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Council recognizes Dynamiters’ achievement
Kimberley City Council Report
By Nowell Berg
On May 11, City of Kimberley council held its regular bi-monthly meeting.
Councillors Kevin Dunnebacke, Diana Fox, Woody Maguire, Jason McBain and Sandra Roberts were present along with Mayor Don McCormick. Coun. Sue Cairns attended by video link.
An archive of the meeting can be viewed on the City of Kimberley YouTube channel. Watch it here.
Dynamiters Win KIJHL Championship
Prior to calling the council meeting to order, Mayor McCormick, wearing a team jersey, introduced Jason McBain (pictured above), not only a councillor but assistant coach of the Kimberley Dynamiters, who has announced his intention to run for Mayor in the October municipal elections.
McBain said, “I thought it would be a great idea to bring the [Teck] Cup here.” He praised the team, coaches and players, adding the players “understand what the team means to the town.”
He spoke about the number of alumni who were attending “multiple playoff games” and were the “most excited group,” using air quotes to emphasize the point. He mentioned the alumni return to Kimberley because “the town treated them so well” when they were here as players.
He told council the current players are out in the community, at schools and around town.
Concluding his remarks, McBain said, “It’s a very exciting time.” The team has truly become the “heart of the community.”
2025 Audited Financial Statements
Mario Piroddi, BDO Canada LLP, presented to council the audited financial statements for 2025.
He said, “We will be issuing a clean audit opinion.” The financial statements “present fairly the results of the City of Kimberley for the year ending December 31, 2025.”
Piroddi supported Mayor McComick’s comment that the Waste Water Treatment Plant project is “so big that it distorts almost everything it touches” from financial statements through to operations.
The city has $36.3 million in restricted reserves with almost $8 million in general operating capital reserve, $7.9 million in land development reserve, $5.2 million in water reserves and $3.0 million in sewer reserves.
Concluding his presentation, Piroddi said, “I’m very pleased with the audit results this year and I’m happy to issue this audit opinion.”
The 2025 audited financial statements will be available on the city’s website once council approves them in late June.
ATVs on city streets
Rod Duggan, ATV BC, presented to council a request to consider allowing ATV vehicles on city streets.
First off, Duggan told council that today’s ATV’s come out of the factory “street legal.” ATVs now have all the “proper lighting, proper reflectors, license plate lights, everything you need to operate them on the street.”
“What we want to do is set up a trail that is coming from Coleman, Alberta through to Creston, B.C.,” he said.
Kimberley is the “key to the whole thing,” as the group needs access to St. Mary Lake Road which leads to Grey/Redding Creek pass and Kootenay Lake.
Duggan said that access through Kimberley would be “only on roads with a speed limit lower than 60 km/h.”
Tom Cramer, Elk Valley ATV Club President, presented more details on the Coleman to Canal Flats to Creston through Kimberley trail plan.
Cramer mention several benefits on the trail circuit including economic diversification, ethically responsible tourism, Indigenous recognition and awareness, investment opportunities and linking with side attractions and other trail routes.
Locally, the trail plan is supported by the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK), Village of Canal Flats, Tom Shypitka (former Kootenay East MLA) along with Elkford, Sparwood, Radium and Columbia Valley Chambers of Commerce, as well as the Elk Valley and Columbia Valley RCMP, among others.
Coun. McBain asked what is the “biggest challenge you’ve experienced so far?”
Replying, Cramer said, “The biggest concern is public safety,” which is also paramount with RCMP.
Coun. Dunnebacke ask about registration and insurance coverage. Would it be through ICBC?
Duggan told council there are three levels of insurance. The first is for ATVs “out in bush.” Second level covers “incidental crossing of public properties.” Third, “liability insurance for ATVs” which is now covered by third party insurance companies.
Responding to Mayor McCormick’s query about what the group is asking of council, Cramer said, “I’m gonna ask that council support in principle the proposal of the inter-connected ORV [ATV] designated trail system with access into the community of Kimberley.”
Mayor McCormick told Duggan and Cramer the city would get back to them regarding their request.
Kimberley city council assembles twice monthly starting at 7 p.m.
The next regular council meeting: May 28.
e-KNOW file photos
e-KNOW
