By Lorne Eckersley
Advance Staff
Creston Town Council have heard a clear message about animals that range from rats to bears—it’s a a problem that won’t go away unless humans change their behavior. At the regular September 5th council meeting, Trish Drinkle, the local WildSafeBC coordinator spoke about human-wildlife conflicts. “Wild animals are drawn to town by the lure of food and an inviting environment,” she said. “They are attracted by garbage or unpicked ripe fruit, and they stay when they find suitable hideouts. Increasing populations of rats have been reported within Town limits this year,” Drinkle said. A few unkept properties can lead to large numbers of the pests. “Female rats can actually get pregnant again before they have given birth, so the numbers can escalate quickly in a year,” she said. “The solution, is in managing food sources and removing junk that can provide shelter. Larger animals, like bears, might not stay in town, but they too are attracted by garbage and ripe fruit. Keeping garbage enclosed, not setting it out for collection until the morning helps as does removing ripe fruit that drops onto the ground and picking in a timely fashion” said Trish Drinkle.
In other Town Council news:
• Council approved a $250 discretionary grant to sponsor a hole in the annual Creston Valley Thunder Cats golf tournament fundraiser.
• Another discretionary grant, this time for $500, was approved for the Cops for Kids Ride, which travelled through Creston this week.
• A duffle bag and jacket will be donated for the Ducks Unlimited Canada fundraising dinner and auction.
• A development variance permit public meeting will be held on September 19 to get public input for a proposal reduce the usual setback for construction at 225-25th Avenue South.
• Colin Farynowski, manager of engineering, reported that a proposal for the upgrade of the Schikurski pump station has been accepted from WSA Engineering (2012) Ltd. in the amount of $169,953. The upgrade is largely funded by an infrastructure grant.
• A rezoning application for a property at 1128 Northwest Boulevard was denied because it does not fit in with the Official Community Plan and other planning designations.
• Council voted 4-3 to proceed with a public meeting regarding a development permit application from 416 Devon Street.
• Farynowski told Town Council that despite an unusually hot and dry summer “the water restrictions are working.” A large inflow of water this spring helped, he said, “But people have been very good about watering within the restrictions.”