At Tuesday’s regular meeting, Marilin States, recruitment consultant to the Creston Valley Health Working Group, updated Creston town council on her efforts to attract more physicians to the area. She said one prospective physician recently visited Creston and others have shown an interest in learning more about opportunities here.
She said the availability of clinic or office space, at the Creston Valley Mall and on Canyon Street, has been “a factor enhancing our ability to recruit.”
States distributed pamphlets and other materials designed to promote the Creston Valley to physicians.
“I want to thank you for your efforts, which have been very impressive since the working group got going again in November,” Toyota said.
Council Briefs
•A request by the Creston Valley Mall to be exempt from noise control bylaws for the purpose of early morning snow clearing from its parking lot was referred to staff for a report. The mall arranges snow clearing between 3:30 and 4:30 a.m. to accommodate early morning workers, a practice that puts it at odds with the noise bylaw and at least one local resident, who wrote to council to complain about the noise made by the plow.
•Council will request a meeting with the school board to discuss the operation and costs of Prince Charles Theatre.
•Town staff are revisiting the sign bylaw after receiving a variance request from T.A. Rendek and Associates Ltd. to allow six tenant signs facing Canyon Street on the new Creston Place building currently under construction. A loading zone will also be designated on the 14th Avenue side of the building for the exclusive use of customers and businesses in the building. An annual rental fee for the space will be paid to the Town of Creston.
•The Pioneer Phoenix Restoration Society has been formed in attempt to acquire the Interior Health Authority property, now in disuse, for affordable assisted living for seniors. The group presented a business plan to town council and has requested a $2,000 grant-in-aid to have a building inspection made on the property.
•The town has received requests for grants-in-aid from nearly 20 groups for a total of almost $21,000. A total of $24,000 has been budgeted for such requests.