If town councillors were tempted not to declare a Clean Air, Water and Soil Day, a presentation by Canyon-Lister Elementary School Be the Change students at the April 26 regular meeting quickly changed their minds.
About 20 students, along with teachers and parents, packed council chambers. The students made a verbal presentation to back their request, showed posters promoting environmental responsibility and then sang the Blue Dot song.
After the presentation, Mayor Ron Toyota thanked the delegation and declared a two-minute recess, inviting visitors to leave or stay at their pleasure.
“And just so you know, council will be declaring June 7 Clean Air, Water and Soil Day,” he added, getting a roomful of smiles and thank yous.
Council Briefs
•Only Toyota and Couns. Jim Elford, Joanna Wilson and Joe Snopek were in attendance. Coun. Karen Unruh participated by telephone from Kimberley, where she was attending meetings leading up the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments annual conference. Coun. Jen Comer was absent due to a family matter and Coun. Kevin Boehmer’s absence was unexplained.
•Creston RCMP Staff Sgt. Darryl Hammond presented his quarterly report on policing for the Creston Valley.
•An application to apply to the Union of BC Municipalities for a grant to update the community wildfire protection plan for the Town of Creston will be made.
•A request for support for a City of Fernie late resolution at the AKBLG was received. The resolution was spurred by the bids for highways maintenance contracts in the Fernie area coming from two offshore corporations.
•A second City of Fernie request for support of a late resolution was also received. It is intended to raise concerns about Airbnb and VRBO rentals in B.C. communities.
•Council authorized staff to submit an application for a New Building Canada Fund grant to help with upgrades to the Schikurski pump station upgrade. The upgrade would enable water from town wells on the flats to be pumped throughout Creston.
•Council authorized the mayor to write to School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) expressing concerns with the district’s draft facilities review and asking for consultation before final decisions are made about some properties in the Creston area.
•A bylaw to amend the fee charged for in-house tax certificate searches from $20 to $40 dollars will be drafted. A $37.75 fee for online searches will be added.
•A letter from the BC Government and Services Employees’ Union regarding the sale of wine in grocery stores was received for information.
•Toyota will represent Creston in the Wildcat Days Parade in Elkford on July 2. He will transport the new town float, as well.
•West-Can Seal Coating Inc. was award the 2016 micro road surfacing program after submitting the lowest tender ($345,000), which is under the budgeted amount.
•An updating of the fees and charges amendment bylaw including some fee changes was given three readings.
•The five-year financial plan bylaw was adopted.
•The water rates and regulations amendment bylaw was adopted.
•The bylaw notice enforcement amendment bylaw was adopted.
•The Town of Creston expressed an interest in hosting a Coors Banquet One Horse Town country music event after a resident nominated Creston. Eventually, an online vote will determine which of the six finalist towns will host the concert.
•Council approved the use of the parking lots adjacent to Millennium Park for an automotive swap meet on Aug. 27.
•Council approved recommendations of Columbia Basin Trust Community Initiatives Program grants to the following organizations: Canadian Red Cross ($5,246), Canyon Community Association ($3,279), Central Kootenay Spay/Neuter Animal Program Society ($2,500), Cresteramics Society ($3,345), Creston and District Museum Society ($1,929), Creston and District Society for Community Living ($5,250), Creston Community Band ($500), Creston Firefighters Association ($1,349), Creston Valley 4-H Club ($750), Creston Valley Blossom Festival Association ($4,899), Creston Valley Fall Fair ($3,917), Creston Valley Figure Skating Club ($1,429), Creston Valley Food Action Coalition ($2,083), Creston Valley Gymnastics Club ($4,000), Creston Valley Herb Gathering Society ($1,243), Creston Valley Hospice Society ($1,200), Creston Valley Junior Hockey Society ($1,523), Creston Valley Music Teachers Association ($2,905), Creston Valley Rotary Club ($2,000), Creston Valley Search and Rescue Society ($1,375), East Kootenay Mining History Association ($348), Health Arts Society ($1,171), Karate BC ($107), Kootenay Boundary Regional Health Association ($786), Kootenay Council of Seniors ($536), Kootenay Regional Association for Community Living ($4,847), Lister Community Association ($1,893), Northern BC Friends of Children ($1,429), Quilts 4 Kids ($496), Royal Canadian Legion Mo. 29 Creston ($2,605), SQx Danza ($4,669), Stepping Stones for Success ($300), Valley Community Services ($4,714) and Wildflower Creston ($1,000), for a total of $75,801.