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Utility rate increases finalized and reserve fund established
Kimberley City Council Report
By Nowell Berg
On December 11, City of Kimberley council held its last regular bi-monthly meeting for 2023.
Councillors Sue Cairns, Kevin Dunnebacke, Jason McBain, Sandra Roberts and Steven Royer were present along with Mayor Don McCormick. Coun. Woody Maguire was absent.
An archive of the meeting can be found on the City of Kimberley YouTube channel. Watch it here. Note that audio problems originate with the City’s broadcast.
Utility rate increases finalized and reserve fund established
First up, Kimberley city council finalized the utility rate increases presented at the last meeting.
Following that, deputy chief administrative officer and chief financial officer Jim Hendricks presented the final bylaw establishing the Growing Communities Reserve Fund that will house the $3.414 million received from the provincial government. Hendricks said, “We will be discussing through the budget deliberation process how that money will best be invested.”
Hendricks indicated that a series of reserve bylaws will need to be passed in order to allocate the money.
Responding to Coun. Roberts’ question about a timeline, Hendricks told council they have up to “five years” to spend the funds.
Multi-unit storage facility gets green light
Council unanimously gave the go ahead for a new multi-unit storage facility built at 1108-303 Street in Marysville industrial park. The building plan calls for 11 slab-on-grade single storey buildings containing up to 290 self-storage units.
Application approved for Complete Communities program funds
Given the city’s lack of success in obtaining a UBCM grant from the Complete Communities program this past summer, council approved a request from staff to submit a second application to the program. Staff will ask for $106,000 to go toward “engaging a consultant to study and update the modelling of the city’s water and sewer infrastructure.”
The purpose behind the study is to determine the volume of water available to the city from Mark (pictured above) and Matthew Creeks, and map the existing water and sewer system.
According to Project Manager Shane Castle this will allow for a “determination of the total build-out available to the city with its current water resources.”
The study will also look at the impact proposed major developments will have of the water and sewer system, and any water and sewer infrastructure upgrades needed to “support development and ensure adequate fire safety.”
Indicating it’s “really, really important to follow through on this one,” Coun. Roberts pointed out the need to assess aging water and sewer lines. She also added, “We’re seeing climate change in terms of how much water we actually get, how much snow we actually get.” She hopes the grant application will be successful this time, “fingers crossed.”
After setting the 2024 council meeting dates and paying the bills, council adjourned.
Kimberley city council meets twice monthly starting at 7 p.m. The next regular council meeting: January 8, 2024.
e-KNOW file photo
e-KNOW
