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Sparwood Council Facts
The following is a synopsis of what occurred during the March 20 District of Sparwood council meeting.
Delegation
279 Elk Valley Air Cadet Squadron
The #279 Elk Valley Air Cadet Squadron presented Mayor Cal McDougall and members of council with a plaque in recognition of the district’s support in establishing a permanent training facility for the cadets. Following that presentation Mayor McDougall and Yvette Doratty, Elk Valley Area Representative for the BC Provincial Committee, presented Roger Fairhurst a Certificate of Merit in recognition of his dedication and service with the #279 Elk Valley Air Cadet Squadron.
Business
Middletown Crossing
Sparwood’s Middletown Crossing / Highway 3 & 43 Intersection Improvement Project will be receiving $5.1 million in federal and provincial government funding through the New Building Canada Fund – Small Communities Fund. The total project is estimated to cost $7,676,200 with the District’s portion being $2,558,734. The project will include intersection upgrades at Highway 3 and 43 to provide access to the commercial/industrial lots on the south side of Highway 3; a tunnel; LED street lighting; and two traffic lights. Tendering for the project will begin after the Shared Cost Agreement between the district and the provincial government is completed.
Trail Maintenance Contract
Council authorized staff to negotiate a trails maintenance agreement between the District of Sparwood and the Sparwood Trails Alliance Association Society (the “Society”) for ongoing maintenance of the Matevic Draw Trail, the Mountain Shadows Trail, 3.5 km of the Elk Valley Trail along the Lower Elk Valley Road and 17 km of the Coal Discovery Trail between Sparwood and Hosmer. This agreement will provide the Society with a consistent source of funding and will provide improved maintenance to the district’s trail network.  The agreement will be for a term of one-year with an option to renew the contract for an additional four years at one-year increments. The annual cost of this agreement will be up to $5,000.
Chamber of Commerce
Council directed that notice be posted that they will be considering a resolution at the regular meeting on April 18 to authorize the disposition of the property located at 141A Aspen Drive by way of lease to the Sparwood and District Chamber of Commerce for a term of five-years effective July 1. The proposed lease will replace the existing lease, which expires on June 30, and will continue to be used for the purposes of operating a Visitor Centre and Chamber of Commerce at a fee of $10 annually for the term of the agreement (totalling $50). A copy of lease and related documents may be inspected at the District of Sparwood Municipal Office, 136 Spruce Avenue during regular business hours (Mon to Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., excluding stat holidays).
Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Plans
Council approved an award for the provision of engineering consulting services for Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Plans to Kerr Wood Leidal (KWL) at a cost not exceeding $250,000. This contract will provide the district with master plans for the District’s water, wastewater and stormwater networks and facilities and provide a framework for future servicing, statutory right-of-way locations, support subdivision and development servicing approvals, and other improvements within the district.  The Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development announced on Monday that the district was successful in obtaining $207,500 through the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund Program.
Other News
Balmer North – Miners Memorial Ceremony
The Balmer North Miners Memorial Committee would like to invite everyone to the unveiling of the Bronze Miner Statue and premiere of the documentary film in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Balmer North Explosion.
Please join us in honouring the memory of those who lost their lives mining coal in the Sparwood and Elkford area mines.
April 3 – Ceremony 1 – 4 p.m. at Titan Park, 141 Aspen Drive, Sparwood. Followed by premiere of the Documentary Film on the Balmer North explosion at the Causeway Bay.
Have Your Say!
2017 Citizen Satisfaction Survey
Every other year, the district conducts a survey to ask citizens how satisfied they are with district performances, services and overall quality of life in Sparwood, so that we can plan for the future based on what is important to YOU. The survey will take about five to 10 minutes to complete, and to say “thank-you” for participating, you can enter our draw to win a Leisure Centre activity pass or local gift cards valued at $25 and $50. The survey can be completed online or you can pick up a paper copy at the Main Office or Leisure Centre.  Survey CLOSES on April 18. If you have any questions about this survey, please contact us at [email protected].
Spring Registration and Community Information Night
Wednesday, April 5 – 5 – 7 p.m.
 Sparwood Curling Rink Concourse
Come and see what Sparwood has to offer for the spring and summer months at the Spring Registration and Community Information night.  Community groups and organizations are invited to participate in this opportunity to promote their organization, register for programs and show what they have to offer.  Its free!  It’s one night!  Everyone’s invited! Contact Sparwood Leisure Centre at 250-425-0552 or email: [email protected] to register your organization and book your table. Please reserve your table by Wednesday, March 29.
How would you like to help your community during an emergency or disaster?
The District of Sparwood is seeking volunteers to work in the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) or in Emergency Social Services (ESS) in the event of an emergency (e.g. fire of flood).
The EOC is a central location where public safety leaders and decision makers work together in support of incident response and recovery operations. It is responsible for strategic overview, or the “big picture” of an incident. The EOC can often be a fast-paced environment and needs a variety of people to support operations.
ESS provides short-term assistance to British Columbians who are forced to leave their homes because of fire, floods, earthquakes or other emergencies. It is a community-based provincial emergency response program designed to assist those affected by an emergency or disaster, whether that be a single house fire or a major disaster involving mass evacuations.
Those interested in volunteering for either role are asked to contact the Emergency Program Coordinator, Michelle Martineau, at 250-425-6271 or by email at [email protected].
Upcoming Meetings
Committee of the Whole Meeting – Monday, March 27 at 7 p.m.
Regular Meeting 
- Tuesday, April 4 at 1 p.m.
District of Sparwood
