Creston town council kicked off a new year with a short regular council meeting on Tuesday, which was then dissolved into a committee of the whole discussion about budget priorities.
•A request for a designated bus stop in front of the new building at 1230 Canyon Street was received. The developer will be informed that such an application must be made to BC Transit, which operates the bus system, and the Ministry of Transportation, because Canyon Street at that location is a provincial highway.
•A new utility vehicle equipped with a bucket lift will be purchased on the recommendation of engineering and public works director Iain Bell. Funds will be expended from the replacement equipment reserve budget.
•Coun. Wesly Graham was appointed to represent council at a sustainable communities conference in Victoria in February. One member of the management team can also attend if there is sufficient time and interest.
•Council will hold a series of meetings in the coming months to discuss the 2011 budget.
•Coun. Tanya Ducharme will head up a community planning team to organize celebrations for the Rick Hansen Man in Motion 25th anniversary relay to be held on Aug. 24.
•A policy that requires town councillors to produce written reports about conferences they attend will require the reports be submitted before expense reimbursements are approved.
•A housekeeping motion that allows the director of finance and corporate services to destroy certain dated financial records was passed.
•Council agreed to extend the fire services agreement with the Regional District of Central Kootenay for a portion of areas B and C until a new agreement is in place.
•A letter of support will be provided to the Creston Concert Society, which is applying for funding to help bring a production of the opera Carmen to town this fall.
•Council voted to support the Creston Valley Housing Society in its application for Columbia Basin Trust funds to conduct a study on local housing needs.