The following is a breakdown as to what occurred during the March 2 District of Sparwood council meeting.

Business Retention and Expansion Survey

The District of Sparwood conducted a Business Rentention and Expansion survey in order to better develop links with the business community. This project was undertaken in conjunction with the Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute and was part of a wider-reaching provincial initiative managed from Selkirk College. The Sparwood project focused on identifying the needs of our existing businesses through one-to-one interviews. Specifically, the objectives of the project were to:

Identify the needs, concerns, and opportunities of existing local businesses in order that, where appropriate, local action can be taken to respond to the businesses’ needs or development opportunities;

Learn of the future plans of the region’s local businesses with respect to expansion, relocation and/or retention and follow-up where assistance can be provided;

Demonstrate the community’s pro-business attitude and develop an effective means of communication with local businesses; and to

Encourage the business community’s active involvement in economic development.

The results from the project have already been instrumental in progressing dialogues focused on economic development within Sparwood.

Council directed staff to share the findings of the survey with the community through an informal drop in event and also to incorporate the findings into upcoming economic development plans.

Regional Workforce Innovation

The District of Sparwood will provide office space for the Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute to continue research on regional workforce innovation. The Columbia Basin Rural Development Institute has applied for federal funding to support workforce related partnership development in our region. For more information on this project please visit their website at https://www.cbrdi.ca.

Elk River Flood Solutions Strategy

Following a request from the Elk River Alliance (ERA) for the district’s support relating to the Elk River Flood Solutions Strategy, Council appointed the Manager of Planning to the ERA Flood Strategy Working Group. The Elk River Flood Solutions Strategy initiative requires coordinating stakeholders to produce cost effective, timely solutions that increase our resiliency to floods, protect watershed function, and enhance wildlife habitat.

For more information on the Elk River Alliance please visit their website at www.elkriveralliance.ca.

DVP – Spardell Mobile Home Park

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 March 16, consider a Development Variance Permit to vary sections of the Subdivision Servicing Bylaw to remove additional street lighting requirements, remove the drainage system requirement, and reduce the minimum pavement width for local roads. The applicant, Spardell Mobile Home Park Ltd., is requesting these variances to allow for the construction of four mobile home spaces.

Mine Rescue Competion

Council authorized Mayor Cal McDougall to attend the 94th Annual Mine Rescue and First Aid Competitions being held in Elkford on Saturday, May 9. Competitions are set to begin at 8 a.m. and will take place around the Elkford Arena and Pool on Michel Road. Following the competitions, an awards banquet will commence at 6 p.m. at the Elkford Community Conference Centre.

Cranbrook Food Action

Council approved travel and registration for any member of council interested in attending the Cranbrook Food Action Committee workshop in Cranbrook on March 12 regarding the integration of food-specific policy in Official Operating Plans and other municipal policy documents. Councillor Jensen advised that she is interested in attending this workshop.

For more information on the Cranbrook Food Action please visit their website at www.cranbrookfoodaction.com.

Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History

Council authorized the purchase of a corporate membership in the Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History (CBRIH) on an annual basis. Currently CBRIH is working on the history of Sparwood’s schools. They have a few of Sparwood’s year books, grad board photos and a trophy from Michel-Natal High School.

CBRIH has done a number of specific web projects looking at aspects of Sparwood’s and the Elk Valley’s history. To view these projects please visit their website at www.basininstitute.org.

Sparwood 50-Year Birthday Celebration

In 2016 Sparwood will be celebrating its 50th birthday. Council will establish a committee with representatives to include Councillor Jensen, one member of the Chamber of Commerce, one member from the Michel Natal Sparwood Heritage Society, one member from the Coal Miner Days Society, two members of the public, and any interested service clubs to start planning events for the celebration.

Zoning Bylaw Amendment

Zoning Bylaw No. 264, 1981, Amendment Bylaw 1126, 2013 was adopted. The owner of Mountain View Mobile Home Park had applied in 2013 to rezone a portion of the property from Modular Home Subdivision / Manufacture Home Subdivision (R- MH) to Mobile Home Park (R-MP) to allow for expansion of the mobile home park. Prior to Council considering adoption of this bylaw the owner was required to submit a landscape plan for the berm next to Highway 3 and submit a letter specifying a strategy and timeline to detect leaks and complete repairs to the private water distribution system. The owner will continue to work with the district and the Water Stewardship Branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations to resolve ground water issues in a portion of the expansion area.

Summer Student Employment opportunities

The District of Sparwood is currently recruiting for the following summer student positions:

– Parks and Greenbelt Workers

– Parks and Greenbelt Worker

– RDEK – Administrative Assistant

Employment begins May 4 through to August 28. You must currently be attending a full time program and be returning to school in September.

Please visit our website at www.Sparwood.ca for further information on our employment opportunities.

Sparwood Playground Survey

The District of Sparwood is working on updating public playgrounds and we are looking for feedback on our existing playgrounds and what is important to residents in future playgrounds. Please take the time to complete our survey. It should take between five and 10 minutes. Thank you. www.surveymonkey.com/s/2FV95GY

Public Notice 
Fallen Trees 
South of Sparwood Heights Drive

The contract for mitigation 
of the blown down trees
 in the hatched area on
 the map has been
 awarded. Work in this 
area will begin as soon as 
ground conditions allow.
 With the unusual winter
 conditions we have had 
this year the ground in the
 affected area is wet and
soft. Work will not be
 able to commence until
 there is more solid ground to work on. Residents along the bank to the west of the affected area have been voicing concerns about the trees behind their property being removed. These trees will be removed on a safety basis only. This means that any tree in this area that is deemed to be a danger tree (one that is not stable and could fall due to wind or heavy snow) will be removed. All other trees will be left in place.

A second area that was also affected during the same storm is the park area between Cypress Place, Birchwood Place, and Briarwood Place. Some trees in this park have been blown down and a few unstable trees are still left standing. The contractor will be falling the unstable trees and cutting them into six to eight foot sections and leaving them on the ground. Residents may take these for their own use. The root balls that have been pulled up during the storm will be removed by the contractor.

All residents are reminded that these areas are not safe and must not enter the area until the work has completed.

Upcoming meetings (In Council Chambers)

– Monday, March 16 – Regular Council Meeting at 7 p.m.

– Monday, March 30 – Committee of the Whole Meeting at 7 p.m.

District of Sparwood