By Nowell Berg

Op-Ed Commentary

On October 17, residents of Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Electoral Area E will have a chance to select a new Director to represent them at the RDEK Board.

Over the past four weeks, I have knocked on hundreds of doors around Area E and spoken with residents about their concerns and issues in the neighbourhood.

Each community within Area E, St. Mary Lake, Porteous Rd., Meadowbrook, Woods Corner, Ta Ta Creek, Skookumchuck, Wasa, Lazy Lake and Premiere Lake, all have different issues they are dealing with.

Out at St. Mary Lake, residents want the regional park completed, which I support and will work to finish what Jane Walter has started.

In Wycliffe, Porteous Road residents are not only concerned about fire prevention, but also the intersection with Highway 95A that has no left-hand turn lane. The top speed of 100 km/h poses issues with children and seniors having to cross a busy highway, especially during the dark days of winter.

Meadowbrook has two issues, both dealing with water. The 144 residents who are part of the Meadwobrook Waterworks District deal with, at times, low or no water and boil water advisories. The volunteer Board have built two new pump houses and are working to secure funding to complete the project. As Area E Director, I will help the Board in any way I can.

For Meadowbrook residents who are not part of the Water District, their concern deals with sub-divisions and increased housing density and the impact on ground water. Some people told me there isn’t enough water for further development, and others say there is more than enough water.

If Meadowbrook residents want to lead the aquifer study, then I will support them anyway I can. An aquifer study would help to determine the level of ground water in Meadowbrook, its historical fluctuation and whether or not the current groundwater levels support the drilling of additional water wells and what their impact will be on existing wells.

At this time, there just isn’t enough water data to answer questions about future growth.

Ta Ta Creek residents are concerned about wildfire, given the close call the community experienced this past August.

I will support any community in their efforts to start a FireSmart program.

Skookumchuck residents are very disappointed about the closure of the transfer station (aka the dump). They are not happy with the idea of having to transport garbage to the Wasa station. While the RDEK Board has already decided in favour of the closure, I will monitor resident’s feedback and look to work with them and RDEK to find a solution.

At Wasa, residents have concerns about the impact that large boats, particularly wake boats, have on water clarity and cleanliness, the soft lake bottom and foreshore erosion. This issue goes beyond Wasa and is of concern to residents of Rosen, Tie, Columbia and Windermere lakes.

Two polar extremes exist at Wasa. One, those who want no power boats at all. Two, those who want any power boat, anytime, anywhere on the lake.

My position is that large power boats producing large wakes are not suitable to a small lake like Wasa.

As for other types of boats – row boats, 12-14-foot fishing boats, sailboats, paddle boats, paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, jet skis and even ski boats –  they are part of the recreational history of Wasa. I am okay with these other boating activities as they have a far lower negative impacts on the water and foreshore.

Transport Canada, the Federal agency that over-sees boating across Canada, is the only government department that can establish regulations to restrict boats on a lake. Until they decide to act, there will be no boat restrictions at Wasa.

It has been a great pleasure to meet a wide range of residents across Area E.

I look forward to representing all residents whether they vote for me or not.

General voting day – October 17.

Voting locations:

Wasa Community Hall and Centre 64 in Kimberley from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

– Nowell Berg is RDEK Electoral Area E director candidate

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