Kimberley City Council Report

By Nowell Berg

On November 12, City of Kimberley council held its regular bi-monthly meeting.

Councillors Sue Cairns, Kevin Dunnebacke, Diana Fox, Woody Maguire, Jason McBain and Sandra Roberts were present along with Mayor Don McCormick.

An archive of the meeting can be found on the City of Kimberley YouTube channel. Watch it here.

Curling Club Update

Blair Jarvis (Club Manager) and Gavin Sims (VP) made a presentation to council updating them on Kimberley Curling Club activities.

Jarvis reported that the club has the “largest Junior program in the Kootenays.” Currently, 36 youth actively participate. Coming up this season, the club will host the U18 Provincials and High School Provincial tournaments, which is expected to draw 16 – 20 teams.

Over the past several years, the club’s membership continues to grow. In 2019, the club had 215 members. Last year the number rose to 250. For the up-coming curling season, Jarvis said, “60 new curlers are registered.” He expects to see five per cent to 10% growth in memberships.

Last year the club started an “Instructional League to help introduce people to the game,” 15 people participated. This year enrollment in the League is “close to 40.”

Jarvis said, “We have become an important host [for non-curling events].” He cited the use of the facility for the darts league, music shows, weddings, private parties, the Military Ames garage sale, McKim Grade 4 orientation, and a dry space for the Wildsight Summer Camp.

While participation is looking up for the club, Jarvis noted, “We are struggling with a 60-year-old building with a lot of little gremlins in it.” He pointed out the deficiencies in the building, such as a concrete slab that is not level, an aging ice plant and bathrooms, a leaky roof, windows and doors at end of life and upstairs access limited to stairs.

Most council members were aware of the problems.

Saying that “the city operations staff are great to work with,” Jarvis added the club is waiting on the city to provide a new lease agreement and clarify the buildings future before they continue to invest in anymore on renovations.

Coun. Roberts noted that over the years, “the club has it ebbs and flows.”  She said that it was “really awesome to see the kids coming back because it’s a really wonderful sport.

Asking about the cost for a child to sign up, Coun. Dunnebacke was pleased with Jarvis’s answer: “It’s $100 for 18 weeks on curling action on Friday afternoons, along with two pizza parties.”

Jarvis also said that cost should not deter children in Kimberley from joining the club. “Any child that wants to curl can curl at our facility.”

Mayor McCormick recalled when the building was shut down for a year, “the club rallied to raise funds for renovations.” He added that in the short-term, the chiller replacement, which is shared with the Civic Centre, would be “moving ahead sooner than later.”

He said the city “will keep you guys informed” about the future of the building once the facilities assessment study is complete.

Fire Service Bylaw Amended

In order to bring the Kimberley Fire Department into alignment with “new provincial legislation to enhance structural fire safety through inspections and effective enforcement,” the city’s Fire Bylaw needs to be amended.

To do this, the council created and designated local persons for Fire Inspectors and Fire Investigators, along with allowing them to perform “tactical evacuations.”

Council unanimously approved the first batch of changes. The Fire Department will offer a free eight-hour course for local firefighters so they have the training needed to take on the Inspector and Investigator roles.

Fire Chief Will Booth told council there will be several more amendments to the Bylaw over the next year to make sure it aligns with the Provincial Fire Safety Act.

Kimberley city council assembles twice monthly starting at 7 p.m. The next regular council meeting: November 25.

e-KNOW file photos

e-KNOW

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