The following is a synopsis of what occurred during the Nov. 4 Regional District of East Kootenay board of directors’ meeting.

10-Year Service Award

Rosemary Oaks has been recognized by the board for her 10 years of service. Rosemary joined the RDEK in our Columbia Valley Office in 2006 as a part time Building & Protective Services Secretary. She is an integral part of the Columbia Valley office, and the RDEK as a whole. Congratulations on this milestone Rosemary.

Chair and Vice Chair re-elected for 2017

Electoral Area C Director Rob Gay will continue on as Board Chair and Electoral Area F Director Wendy Booth will continue on as Vice Chair for 2017. This will be Gay’s sixth term as RDEK Chair and Booth’s fifth term as Vice Chair. Both Gay and Booth were acclaimed.

Memorandum of Settlement ratified

The Memorandum of Settlement has been ratified and the Chair and CAO have signed the revised Collective Agreement with CUPE Local 2106. The six-year agreement is effective January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2021. In jointly announcing the ratification, CAO Shawn Tomlin and CUPE Local 2106 President & Bargaining Team Chair Rosemary Oaks thanked members of both bargaining teams for their work and willingness to come together throughout the process.

Columbia Valley Local Conservation Fund to continue

Noting the success of the Columbia Valley Conservation Fund, the RDEK Board of Directors has decided to remove the expiry clause from the bylaw and continue with the service. An amendment will be prepared to Bylaw No. 2083 to remove the expiry. The bylaw is expected to be back before the board for three readings in December and will then be sent to the Columbia Valley municipal councils for consideration. The Electoral Area Directors will consent to the change on behalf of the electors in Areas F and G. The Service was set to expire on December 31, 2018.

Area C Rezoning Applications go to public hearing

The board advanced three separate bylaw amendment applications affecting Electoral Area C to a public hearing. Bylaws Nos. 2723 and 2714 will amend the Rockyview OCP and Cranbrook Rural Zoning Bylaw to permit a three-lot subdivision on Standard Hill Road north of Cranbrook. Bylaw No. 2735 will amend the Steeples Zoning Bylaw to allow for a four lot subdivision on the Wardner – Fort Steele Road south of Fort Steele. Finally, Bylaw No. 2736 will rezone a 14 hectares piece of Crown land to facilitate the expansion of the Palmer Bar Holdings’ industrial operations in Lumberton. The public hearings for all three applications will be held on Thursday, November 24 at 7 p.m. in the Cranbrook RDEK boardroom.

Columbia Valley Rural Refuse Haul Contract awarded

Southeast Contracting Ltd. has been awarded the contract for the Columbia Valley Rural Refuse Haul for a five-year term.

Application to be submitted for Dam Upgrade and Watermain Replacement


An application will be submitted to the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund for the Edgewater—Lake Baptiste Dam Upgrade and the Moyie Watermain Replacement project.

Area G Backyard Agriculture Public Hearing set

The board gave first and second reading to two bylaws to allow for backyard chickens and beekeeping in Electoral Area G. The public hearing for Bylaws Nos. 2732 and 2733 will be held on Wednesday, November 23 at 7 p.m. in the Edgewater Community Hall.

Asset Management Planning Grant sought

The RDEK will submit an application to the Union of BC Municipalities for an Asset Management Planning Grant. If the application is successful, the grant will support the continued development of the RDEK’s asset management plans, asset inventory and condition assessment framework.

Agreement signed to increase access to High Speed Internet


The Chair and CAO have signed the partnering agreement with Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation and FlexiNET Broadband Inc. for the term March 1 to March 31, 2018 to increase the availability of high speed internet service in Electoral Areas B, C E and F. In addition, an Indefeasible Right of Use (IRU) agreement has been signed with Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation for six strands of fibre in the Columbia Valley fibre-optic backbone.

Meeting to be scheduled with Forest Enhancement Society


A meeting will be scheduled with the Forest Enhancement Society to discuss wildfire prevention and fuel management.

Fozzy Fest Special Event Licence granted

The board has granted a special event licence to Fozzy Fest Inc. for FozzyFest 2017, to be held September 14-17, 2017 at Big Springs Campground on Lake Koocanusa. A number of conditions were attached to the approval, including: having speakers pointed into forested areas and utilizing backdrop curtains to buffer sound. In addition, the Noise Control Bylaw will be waived from 4 p.m. September 14 until 6 a.m. September 17, 2017 for the event.

Memorandum of Understanding signed

A Memorandum of Understanding will be signed with the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce for the management of the Imagine Kootenay Program for the term April 1 – March 31, 2017. Earlier this year, the board approved an annual grant of $15,000 for Imagine Kootenay from the Columbia Valley Economic Development Service and authorized the negotiation of a contribution agreement with the chamber for the management of the program.

New Boating Regulation prompts letter of thanks

A letter of thanks will be sent to Federal Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau, following the enactment of a boating regulation establishing a 20hp limit for boats on the Columbia River. Copies of the letter will also be sent to Kootenay Columbia MP Wayne Stetski and the Province of BC.

Grant awarded for theatre assessment

School District No. 5 will be undertaking a comprehensive building assessment of Key City Theatre and the immediate areas attached to Mount Baker Senior Secondary School and has requested the RDEK and City of Cranbrook partner with them. The board has approved a grant of up to $11,667 towards the building assessment.

APC / EAAC appointment in Area F

Sierra Stump has been appointed to the Advisory Planning Commission and Electoral Area Advisory Commission for Electoral Area F.

Discretionary Grants-In-Aid (DGIA)

The Fernie Alpine Ski Team will receive $1,000 from the Electoral Area A DGIA account for Fernie Alpine Resort’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks display.

The Royal Canadian Legion—Fernie Branch No. 36 will receive $45 from the Electoral Area A DGIA account for the Poppy Campaign.

The Royal Canadian Legion—Michel Natal Branch No. 81 will receive $45 from the Electoral Area A DGIA account for the Poppy Campaign.

The Canadian Mental Health Association will receive $1,500 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account for the Annual Community Christmas Dinner.

The Wasa Historical Association will receive $1,200 from the Electoral Area E DGIA account for improvements to the Wasa Memorial Garden.

The Royal Canadian Legion—Windermere District Branch No. 71 will receive $75 from the Electoral Area F DGIA account for the Poppy Campaign.

The Royal Canadian Legion—Edgewater Branch No. 199 will receive $75 from the Electoral Area G DGIA account for the Poppy Campaign.

Public Hearings

Tuesday, November 22 – 7 p.m. at Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce, 651 Highway 93/95, Invermere

Bylaw No. 2734 – will permit the installation of wildlife exclusion fencing up to 2.4 m (7.9 ft) around the perimeter of backyard gardens on properties zoned R-1, R-1(A), R-1(C) and R-1(MH) in the Columbia Valley; and for

Bylaw No. 2731 – Regional District of East Kootenay – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1992 – Amendment Bylaw No. 320, 2016 (Windermere / 814415 Alberta Ltd. & Seleshanko).

Wednesday, November 23 – 4 p.m. at Radium Community Hall
, 4863 Stanley Street, Radium Hot Springs

Bylaw No. 2730 – cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1992 – Amendment Bylaw No. 319, 2016 (Juniper Heights / Max Helmer Construction Ltd.)

Wednesday, November 23 – 7 p.m. at Edgewater Community Hall
, 4818 Selkirk Avenue, Edgewater

Bylaw No. 2732 – will permit keeping up to six backyard hens for personal egg production on properties zoned R-1, R-1(A), R-1(C) and R-1(MH) within Electoral Area G; and for

Bylaw No. 2733 will permit keeping up to two backyard beehives for hobby scale beekeeping on properties zoned R-1, R-1(A), R-1(C) and R-1(MH) within Electoral Area G.

Thursday, November 24 – 7 p.m. at 
Regional District of East Kootenay—Boardroom 19—24th Avenue South, Cranbrook

Bylaw No. 2736 – cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Moyie and Area Land Use Bylaw No. 2070, 2008 – Amendment Bylaw No. 14, 2016 (Lumberton / Crown); and for

Bylaw No. 2735 – cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Steeples Zoning & Floodplain Management Bylaw No. 2615, 2015 – Amendment Bylaw No. 5, 2016 (Ft. Steele / Walker); and for

Bylaw No. 2725 – cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Rockyview Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2255, 2010 – Amendment Bylaw No. 19, 2016 (Mission / JJAR Holdings Ltd.) and;

Bylaw No. 2726 – cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Cranbrook Rural Zoning Bylaw No. 1402, 2001 – Amendment Bylaw No. No. 44, 2016 (Mission / JJAR Holdings Ltd.

Monday, November 28 – 7 p.m. 
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort—Pine Room, 
5225 Fairmont Hot Springs Road, Fairmont Hot Springs

Bylaw No. 2728 – cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Upper Columbia Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 900, 1992 – Amendment Bylaw No. 317, 2016 (Fairmont Hot Springs / Boyechko)

Links to the Public Hearing Notices, along with information on the public meetings is available on the Meetings/Minutes page on the RDEK’s website – Public Hearings and Meetings.

Open Houses and Events

Kimberley Rural Official Community Plan Open House

Tuesday, November 29 —7 to 9 p.m. at the Kimberley Centennial Centre

We are currently reviewing and updating the Kimberley Rural Official Community Plan. The open house will provide a brief presentation of the planning process followed by an opportunity to review the proposed policies, ask questions and discuss the plan with RDEK staff and Electoral Area Director, Jane Walter.

The Regional District of East Kootenay’s Proposed Bull River / Mayook Mosquito Control Service—Advance Vote is today, Thursday, November 17, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at the Wardner Community Hall, 6211 Cartwright St., Wardner.

Proposed Bull River / Mayook Mosquito Control Service– General Vote

Saturday, November 19 from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
 at the Wardner Community Hall, 6211 Cartwright St., Wardner

NEXT BOARD MEETINGS


Thursday, December 1 – Committee Meetings TBA

Friday, December 2 – RDEK Board Meeting 9 a.m.

For more information on our meetings, projects or services, visit our website. Or follow us on Facebook.

Lead image: The Lake Windermere Ambassadors testing Lake Windermere water – one of many services funded whole or in part by the Columbia Valley Conservation Fund. Ian Cobb/e-KNOW photo

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