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Sparwood Council Facts
Sparwood Curling Club
District of Sparwood Mayor and Chief Administrative Officer were July 15 authorized to execute a lease renewal agreement with Sparwood Curling Club for a five-year term commencing on October 1. The Curling Club leases the curling rink and adjoining concourse and lounge located within the Leisure Centre Complex annually between the months of October and March of each year.
Development Variance Permit changes
Council authorized sending out notices to surrounding property owners and tenants who may be affected advising them that council will, at the regular meeting of August 19, consider a Development Variance Permit to vary sections of the Mobile Home Parks Bylaw to allow for a reduction in the minimum area for a mobile home space, the minimum width of a mobile home space, and to eliminate the requirements for a buffer area and recreation space for the Elk Valley Mobile Home Park.
Building Inspection Services
Council directed Staff to enter into a contract with Outwest Building Inspection Services for a two-year term for building inspection services.
Community Energy and Emissions Plan
Council approved financial and in-kind support for the East Kootenay Energy Diet. Participation in the Energy Diet will be simple. The following steps outline the process for a homeowner:
– Sign up for the Energy Diet on-line, in person at a local event, or at the Community Kick-Off in September;
– Choose a time for the home energy assessment during the allocated week for each community;
– Participate in the home energy assessment to learn about the efficiency of your house;
– Review your energy assessment report: access support from the Energy Diet to help prioritize the actions;
– Retrofit your home! Make one or two changes, or do it all. The Energy Diet team can advise on how to get started and what incentives are available;
– Keep all of your receipts: to access rebates from LiveSmart BC ($4,000 available), you must complete a follow-up assessment;
– Follow-up assessment (optional) will be able to measure your improvement!
For more information contact Nelson Wight, Manager of Planning at 250.425.6828 or [email protected] .
Community Sani-Dump
District staff has and will continue to monitor the current site of the sani-dump at 141b Aspen Drive over the summer. Council resolved to keep the sani-dump at the current site and staff will report back on future improvements to the site and investigate a fee for service use.
Sparwood & District Arts and Heritage Council
Funding was approved up to a maximum of $2,600 on an annual basis for the Sparwood & District Arts and Heritage Council to top up wages for one summer student. The Arts and Heritage Council applies for a Human Resources Development Grant each year to hire a summer student that works in the community to provide a summer arts program.
Emergency repairs
Council received a report from the Director of Engineering outlining the damage done to the Elk River water crossing and the section of Corbin Road that the District of Sparwood owns during the recent flood event. The water line that feeds the Michel Creek Road area was taken out of service by floodwaters of the Elk River. Michel Creek washed away a section of the embankment of Corbin Road.
Although this section did not wash away any of the travelled portion it must be rebuilt to avoid future road failure.
Sign permit
Council approved a sign permit application made by Coal Town Properties for a six -month period for a fee of $100 per month per sign. The signs, advertising the Vantage Point Development, are located at 1302 Highway 3, 6000 Highway 43, and 1800 Sparwood Heights Drive.
Public Relations Committee
The following recommendations from the Public Relations Committee Meeting held July 2, were approved by council.
– The District of Sparwood contribute $2,500 to cover the remaining budget allocation for the Titan painting project, conditional on the addition of District of Sparwood branding;
– Personnel ā Service Award Policy be amended to provide for a gift of the employees choosing of a value up to $300 and $350 for 35 and 40 years of service respectively;
– The afternoon of the third Friday in June be designated as a day to celebrate seniors who reach the age of 75 years.
Bylaws
* Following a public hearing to receive input from the public, Bylaw 1126 cited as āZoning Bylaw No. 264, 1981, Amendment Bylaw 1126, 2013ā was givenĀ third reading and referred to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for approval. The owner of Mountain View Mobile Home Park has applied to rezone a portion of the property from Modular Home Subdivision / Manufactured HomeĀ Subdivision (R-MH) to Mobile Home Park (R-MP) to allow for an expansion of the mobile home park.
Prior to council considering final reading of the bylaw amendment, completion of the following conditions is required:Ā Receipt of a detailed landscape plan; and receipt of a letter from the owner, which specifies a strategy and timeline to detect leaks and complete repairs to the private water distribution system.
* Bylaw 1127 cited as āMichel Creek Road WaterĀ Extension Local Area Service Reserve Fund Establishment Bylaw 1127, 2013ā was adopted.
* Bylaw 1128 cited as āZoning Bylaw No. 264, 1981, Amendment Bylaw 1128, 203ā was given first and second reading and a public hearing scheduled forĀ 7 p.m. on Monday, August 19. The East Kootenay Community Credit Union has applied for this amendment to allow for additional development at 120 Spruce Avenue including a new commercial building on the corner and an addition to the old RCMP building to accommodate up to two residential units.
Be Bear Smart!
Bears have been spotted in recent weeks passing through our community. Bears have a very keen sense of smell. Garbage or other food sources can easily attract a bear to your property.
ļ· Keep garbage in a secured shed or garage until pick up day. Never leave fish or meat remains outside or in your compost. Instead, put them in your freezer or a cold place until garbage day;
ļ· Cooking oil, grease, dairy products or fruit should never be left outside or put in your compost;
ļ· Try using lime to cut odor from your compost;
ļ· If you have fruit trees, pick the fruit as it ripens and clean up windfalls immediately; and
ļ· Remove any unwanted fruit trees.
Sparwood Farmerās Market
Sparwood Chamber of Commerce Parking Lot Friday evenings from 5 ā 9 p.m.
For more information, or to become a vendor, please contact Amy Cardozo atĀ [email protected], or on Facebook under āSparwood Farmerās Market.ā
Mosquito Control Tips
– Get rid of old tires, tin cans, buckets, drums, bottles, or any water holding containers.
– Fill in or drain any low places (puddles, ruts) in yard.
– Keep drains, ditches, and culverts clean of weeds and trash so water will drain properly.
– Cover trash containers to keep out rainwater.
– Repair leaky pipes and outdoor faucets.
– Empty plastic wading pools at least once a week and store it indoors when not in use.
– Make sure your backyard pool is properly cared for while on vacation.
– Fill in tree rot holes and hollow stumps that hold water with sand or concrete.
– Change the water in bird baths and plant pots or drip trays at least once a week.
– Keep gutters clean and unclogged. Be sure your downspouts drain properly, without leaving puddles in the drainage area.
– Ornamental ponds should be aerated to keep water moving and discourage mosquitoes from laying eggs.
– Adult mosquitoes rest during the day, usually on tall weeds or other vegetation. Make your yard less hospitable to mosquitoes by mowing your lawn regularly, and keep weeds away from your homeās foundation.
Water Meters
The 2012 and 2013 residential water use to date is now available online. It can be viewed at www.sparwood.ca/water. If you have any questions about your water usage, please call Laura, the Water Smart Ambassador, at 250-910-0854, or email [email protected].
Upcoming Meetings (In council chambers)
– Monday, August 19 – Regular Meeting at 7 p.m.
– Tuesday, September 3 – Regular Meeting at 7 p.m.
District of Sparwood
