A plan to clear forest fire fuel near Town of Creston boundaries and reduce fire hazards could cost more than anticipated.
Creston Fire Rescue Chief Mike Moore said at the April 29 town council meeting that three contractors responded to a request for proposals but all exceed the $273,000 allocation in the budget. Of the total, a Union of BC Municipalities wildfire fuels mitigation program would provide $245,700 in grant money, with the town adding $27,300.
“After reviewing the information in consultation with the project consultant, it was deemed that a request to UBCM to increase the funding allocation towards the project to $289,710 was preferred to have the project proceed,” Moore said in his report. “This request, if approved, will not require increased financial commitments by the Town of Creston.”
Council passed a motion to make the request.
Council Briefs
•Pastor Gord Lawrence of New Life Church presented his final invocation to council. He is retiring in June.
•Council determined, on the advice of municipal services co-ordinator Ross Beddoes, that its interests are not affected by Regional District of Central Kootenay comprehensive land use bylaws for areas A, B and C. The bylaws will amend zoning regulations pertaining to licensed medical marijuana production and research facilities.
“The zoning already provides for a buffer between any development and Town of Creston land, so we will not be directly affected by what the RDCK decides,” he said.
•A request for a $500 discretionary grant for the Rick Clark Memorial Golf Tournament for student bursaries was defeated.
“These grants are usually provided to youth sports teams that qualify for provincial tournaments and the like, and not for ongoing fundraising programs,” Coun. Wesly Graham said.
•Council approved a $500 request for discretionary funds to help with the 24th annual Yaqan Nukiy Powwow to be held on the May long weekend.
•Grant requests for the BC Seniors Games (sufficient financial information was not supplied) and First Creston Scouts (because the group was award a Columbia Basin Trust Community Initiatives Grant) were turned down.
•Town council was given an overview of a proposed RDCK bylaw to create sub-regional service committees, much like the Creston Valley services committee, which has operated without legal status for years. Members of such committees, who are regional directors, will not receive additional remuneration or expenses for participating.
•Establishment of an RDCK water supply board was also discussed briefly. It would include directors from areas A through K and the Town of Creston representative.
•Engineering manager Colin Farynowski reported that infrastructure work that has been disrupting Erickson Road traffic is nearly complete. The work involved pushing a 24-inch steel pipe beneath the railway tracks to allow water lines to run through. A number of other small projects along Erickson Road are being completed in anticipation of a repaving project by the Ministry of Transportation later this summer.
The successful tenderer for the paving project has been announced, he said.
•Executive assistant Bev Caldwell reported that the operators of the midway that set up beside Millennium Park last weekend said their stay was surprisingly successful despite cool and rainy weather. Operators thanked the Town of Creston for accommodating the midway and made a $2,800 contribution to the Creston Valley Blossom Festival committee.