“It could be anything from Bard in the Barn to a musician recording himself singing to cows out in a field,” was the message Town Council received last Tuesday from representatives of The Full Plate Organizing Committee.
Brenda Brucker, Audrey Orosz and Maureen Cameron appeared as a delegation, not to ask for money – “at least not yet!” – but to explain that The Full Plate will be a year-long celebration involving the arts and agriculture communities.
“I wanted to find a way to connect our Valley’s two greatest assets,” Brucker said.
Their committee is working with the Arts Council, and is not intended to organize events. A web site, Facebook page and Youtube channel are being dedicated to host documentation of events that individuals or organizations throughout the year do to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary, she said.
In other Town Council news:
•No increase to water rates will be good news in 2017 for Town property owners. There will be some adjustments, though. Minimum charges for restaurants, bakeries and beauty salons will be increased, and a $250 annual flat fee for non-automated commercial water filling fixtures will be instituted. As well, secondary suites will now be charged 50 per cent of the flat utility rate for single family dwellings. Residential sewer rates will rise as per a bylaw passed last year, with most units paying $9-$11 more in 2017.
•The list of Town representatives to committees and organizations for 2017 was adopted.
•The Creston Valley Rotary Club, which constructed a new washroom facility at Centennial Park in 2016, which was badly damaged by vandals in the fall, has donated $1,500 to be used toward the installation of timed locking/unlocking devices on the building’s doors.
•A detailed report about the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area’s activities, and its use of an approximately $10,000 annual contribution , was received and will be used in 2017 budget deliberations.
•Details of a Town of Creston bursary for PCSS student leadership are closer to being finalized. The successful candidate will be proceeding to a recognized post-secondary institution, which can also include trade programs.
“Preference will be given to a student who demonstrates good citizenship, involvement as a volunteer within the community or assumed a leadership role while attending PCSS, and shown the willingness to take on additional responsibilities,” says the outline adopted by Council.
•Coun. Joanna Wilson was appointed as a Town of Creston Canada 150 Community Leader to liaise between the federal government and community organizations.
•Council will request a presention from Fields Forward to get details about a $10,000 request toward the purchase of a mobile fruit and vegetable press.
•Discretionary spending accounts for 2016 were emptied in order to contribute $2,000 to the 2017 Bird Fest and $700 to the Firefighters Society for expenses at its community Halloween celebration.
•Fire Chief Mike Moore presented an update on fire department activities in October and November. In October, fire rescue services responded to 43 emergency incidents, including one structure fire. The activity was similar in November, with 37 emergency incidents and one structure fire.
•Staff reported that work toward a draft of a new Official Community Plan is proceeding as scheduled.
•The Youth Engagement Strategy Select Committee has completed its mandate, Coun. Jen Comer told Council. Its remaining $5,000 budget will be put toward the purchase of a pool table and accessories in the Teen Space, and a youth celebration in February.