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RDEK Board Highlights
The following is a synopsis of some of the matters handled by the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Board of directors Dec. 2.
West Fernie Water/Sewer Operations and Maintenance Agreement signed with City of Fernie
RDEK Board Chair Rob Gay and chief administrative officer Shawn Tomlin signed the agreement with the City of Fernie for the operation and maintenance of the water and sewer systems in West Fernie.
The agreement covers the interim period between the completion of Phase One and the approval of the City of Fernie boundary restructure by the provincial government.
The agreement will allow residents in Phase One, where construction is complete, to connect to the sanitary sewer system. It also defines each local government’s responsibility in relation to the operation and maintenance of both the new and old water systems and the new sanitary sewer system in Phase One.
Foothills Silva Culture Inc. Rezoning
The board gave first and second reading to bylaws that will amend the Elk Valley OCP and the Elk Valley Zoning Bylaw to facilitate light industrial land uses on a 6.9-hectare property north of Fernie. The parcel of land under application was previously used as the highway maintenance yard. Foothills Silva Culture Inc. has applied to change the zoning to facilitate a range of light industrial land uses. In doing so, the applicant has also agreed to retain a treed buffer with adjacent residential properties and adhere to City of Fernie design guidelines with respect to future development. A public hearing for Bylaws No. 2741 and 2742 will be held at 7 p.m. on January 19 in the Fernie Family Centre.
Zamboni Headed to Wasa
The old Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena Zamboni will be donated to the Wasa and District Lions Club for use on the community outdoor rink (pictured above). The RDEK purchased a new Zamboni for the Eddie Mountain Memorial Arena earlier this year.
Letter Sent to MMBC
A letter will be sent to Multi-Material Management of BC (MMBC) requesting that the RDEK be added to MMBC’s list of communities/areas wanting to partner on the Depot Collection Financial Incentive opportunity. Currently, MMBC operates one recycling depot at the Cranbrook Bottle Depot that serves the entire East Kootenay. MMBC has suggested it may consider expansion of service by partnering with a local government. Additional work would be required to determine whether the RDEK may be able to partner with MMBC to provide additional recycling services to the region at its six staffed transfer stations; however, this request is a first step to ensuring the RDEK is in the queue for consideration.
Contribution Agreements Signed
The Chair and CAO have signed an agreement with the Fairmont Evergreen Cemetery Association to continue providing a contribution from the Electoral Area F Cemetery Service towards the operation and maintenance of the Fairmont Evergreen Cemetery for the term Jan 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021. An agreement has also been signed with the Brisco Recreation Commission to continue to provide a contribution from the Brisco Recreation and Cemetery Service towards the operation and maintenance of the Brisco Community Hall, Columbarium, and Cemetery for the term January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021.
Licence of Occupation for Spur Valley Water System Well
The RDEK has signed a Licence of Occupation with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations for the Spur Valley Water System groundwater well. The RDEK had a Temporary Use Permit on 2.2-hectares east of the community with the understanding the RDEK would apply for a Licence of Occupation once the well was constructed. This new tenure encompasses the groundwater well, pipeline from the well to the pump-house, and the wireless Internet tower erected to support the water system’s remote monitoring capability.
Fireworks to light up the night in Fairmont
The RDEK has approved a Special Event Licence for Fairmont Hot Springs Resort for its annual Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve Fireworks Display.
Discretionary Grants-In-Aid (DGIA)
The Fernie Chamber of Commerce will receive $3,000 from the Electoral Area A DGIA account for the 2017 Griz Days Festival.
The District of Sparwood will receive $5,000 from the Electoral Area A DGIA account for the Balmer North and Miners Memorial Project.
The Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club will receive $1,000 from the Electoral Area A DGIA account for the Harvey Pass Warming Hut.
Summit Community Services Society will receive $1,500 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account and $1,000 from the Electoral Area E DGIA account for the Police Based Victim Services Program.
The Cranbrook Skating Club will receive $1,000 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account for the 2016 East Kootenay Invitational Figure Skating Competition.
The Wardner Community Association will receive $1,390 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account to help pay for covenant fees related to the Community Hall Shelter.
The Cranbrook Community Forest Society will receive $1,750 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account for it’s ‘Give Invasive Species the Brush Off’ signs.
The Big Brothers Big Sisters Club of Cranbrook will receive $2,000 from the Electoral Area C DGIA account to help provide some immediate operational funds.
The Wasa and District Lions Club will receive $1,100 from the Electoral Area E DGIA account for its Outdoor Kitchen.
The Rotary Club of Invermere will receive $1,500 from the Electoral Area F DGIA account and $1,000 from the Electoral Area G DGIA account for its Digital Community Message Centre. The LED display will be posted within the Valley Foods signpost in Invermere.
The Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce will receive $1,500 from the Electoral Area F DGIA account and $300 from the Electoral Area G DGIA account for ‘Time to Unwind’ branded marketing materials.
Public Hearings
Thursday, January 19, 2017– 7 p.m. Fernie Family Centre – 521—4th Avenue, Fernie Bylaw No. 2741 – cited as Regional District of East Kootenay – Elk Valley Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2532, 2014 – Amendment Bylaw No. 5, 2016 (Dicken Rd. / Foothills Silva Culture Inc.) -and-
Bylaw No. 2742 – cited as “Regional District of East Kootenay – Elk Valley Zoning Bylaw No. 829, 1990 – Amendment Bylaw No. 84, 2016 (Dicken Rd. / Foothills Silva Culture Inc.)
(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 under Public Hearings and Meetings link.)
Next board meetings
Thursday, Jan. 5 – RDEK Board Committee meetings, TBA
Friday, Jan. 6 – RDEK Board Meetings – 9 a.m.
RDEK
