Observers in the gallery assumed that Tuesday’s regular Creston town council meeting would have to be postponed, with only Mayor Ron Toyota and Couns. Scott Veitch and Judy Gadicke at the table.
The required quorum of four voters was met, though, by the long-distance participation of Coun. Tanya Ducharme, who was connected to the meeting via speakerphone from a hotel room in Ontario. Coun. Wes Graham later joined in the meeting, also by phone, while on the road to Prince George. A change to town bylaws last year allows for up to two councillors to participate in a meeting by telephone.
Coun. Jerry Schmalz was absent for medical reasons and Coun. Joanna Wilson was away on personal business.
With a relatively short agenda, council approved new appointments and committee representatives to a number of community organizations and directed staff to proceed with collecting information about a possible idling vehicles bylaw in Creston.
Council Briefs
•Permissive tax exemptions, which exempt non-profit organizations from paying all or a portion of property taxes are being re-examined by town staff and council. Exemptions must be applied for every three years and then can be extended to properties deemed to be “enhancing quality of life (economic, social, cultural).” Each application is reviewed on its own merits. Among the considerations under review is to place a total cap on the portion of exemptions in relation to the total of property taxes. Currently, about two per cent of Creston property values are exempt, in what equates to a financial donation by taxpayers.
•A resolution to add a portable sludge processing (dewatering) system at the waste water treatment plant was rescinded after an application for a provincial grant was unsuccessful.
•A business license report indicated that 11 new small business licences were issued, as well as a temporary one to the Canadian Coin Association.
•An invitation to compete for the 2013 Open for Business Award was received for information.
•Two requests from the Creston Valley Thunder Cats had to be deferred until Graham joined the meeting via telephone after Veitch, a director on the hockey team’s board, declared himself to be in a conflict of interest position. After Graham joined the meeting, council voted to contribute $250 from its discretionary account to sponsor a hole in the upcoming golf tournament fundraiser. Also, once again, the Town of Creston will sponsor a board at the hockey rink, using advertising funds.
•A three-year extension for cleaning services at town hall, the police station, fire hall and public works facilities was approved at a cost of $48,270 a year, up nearly $5,000 from the previous contract.
“As the town and RCMP are satisfied with the service currently provided by White and Clean, and staff time to obtain an RCMP security clearance for a new contractor staff would take several months, also taking into consideration the expense of advertising and staff time to conduct a full screening process, it is recommended that the current contract agreement, as amended, be extended for a further three-year term,” said engineering and public works director Iain Bell.
The contract total is significantly less than the numbers submitted by other contractors in 2010.
•Creston will apply for about $243,000 under the Union of BC Municipalities wildfire fuels mitigation program to clear some trees and brush on the perimeter of Forest Lawn Cemetery. The town would have to fund 10 per cent, or $27,000 of the total project, a large portion of which could be recovered by selling firewood, Creston Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Mike Moore said.
•Council voted to extend the closing hours of Millennium Park and waive the $150 booking fee for the Blossom Festival association’s use on May 18. A teen music event will be held in the park.