RDKB Board Meeting — New pumper for Grand Forks Fire/Rescue
By Boundary Sentinel
Grand Forks to receive funds for a new pumper truck, the Interior Lumber Manufacturers Association giving information about a lack of land base for timber harvesting and continuation of the Wood Stove Exchange Program were just some of the items on the agenda during the recent board meeting of the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) held in November.
New pumper for Grand Forks Fire/Rescue
The Board approved purchase of a Rosenbauer Triple Combination Pumper from Rocky Mountain Phoenix for $538,434.70 to be delivered in 2020. The new engine will allow Electoral Area ‘D’/Rural Grand Forks to maintain Fire Underwriters Survey requirements and the current fire grade rating. The new engine will also allow Grand Forks Fire/Rescue to maintain the equivalent to fire hydrant supply status which reduces insurance costs for residents. The current engine will serve as a backup. Both trucks will be housed at the Carson Fire Hall once an addition to the hall is built in 2019.
Director Langman joins CRT Committee
The Board appointed Director Diane Langman, Warfield, to the Columbia River Treaty Local Governments Committee. Director Langman joins Director Linda Worley, Electoral Area ‘B’/Lower Columbia-Old Glory.
ILMA explains need for access to land base
A delegation from the Interior Lumber Manufacturers Association (ILMA) including representatives from Atco Wood Products (Fruitvale) and Vaagen Fibre Canada (Midway) provided information about a lack of land base for timber harvesting. The ILMA explained the effects on local sawmilling and wood products manufacturing. The ILMA will provide a “solutions document” to the Board in the near future to articulate ways to responsibly increase harvesting access. The document will support the ILMA message with the public and other levels of government.
Boundary Agriculture & Food Plan Endorsed
The Board has endorsed the Boundary Area Agriculture and Food Plan. The plan will serve as a guide for local government & stakeholders to strengthen and increase the resiliency of food and agriculture in the Boundary over the coming decade. The planning area includes RDKB Electoral Areas ‘C’/Christina Lake, ‘D’/Rural Grand Forks, and ‘E’/West Boundary and the municipalities of Midway, Greenwood, and Grand Forks.
Wood Stove Exchange Program to continue
The RDKB will continue to participate in the Wood Stove Exchange Program (WSEP) in 2019. Funds left from 2018 will go toward funding the 2019 program. Qualifying homeowners receive a rebate when a new wood-burning, pellet or natural gas stove is purchased and an older model retired. The WSEP is facilitated and financially supported by the Ministry of Environment and the BC Lung Association and run at a community level through grants provided by the Province.
Cannabis bylaws
The Board adopted bylaws to prohibit commercial cultivation in cement-based buildings in the ALR in Electoral Area ‘A’. Cannabis retail sales in Electoral Area ‘A’ and in Mt. Baldy within Area ‘E’ may be considered upon application for a zoning amendment. Consideration of bylaws related to cannabis in Area ‘C’/Christina Lake and Jewel Lake within Area ‘E’ will be made at a future Board meeting.
Funding to local groups/projects (Grants-in-Aid)
Electoral Area ‘A’
- $500 to the Village of Fruitvale for public Remembrance Day refreshments in the Fruitvale Hall after the ceremony.
- Electoral Areas ‘C’/Christina Lake, ‘D’/Rural Grand Forks & ‘E’/West Boundary
- $250 from Area ‘C’, $750 from Area ‘D’ and $500 from Area ‘E’ to the Boundary Community Food Bank for post-flood relocation costs.
Electoral Area ‘C’/Christina Lake
- $2,000 to the Christina Lake Recreation Commission to assist the Christina Lake Parks and Trails – Trails Committee with Trail Development.
- $1,425.40 to the Christina Lake (CL) Stewardship Society for sign development and placement at the Texas Creek Boat Launch. Cost to be shared by RDKB, CL Stewardship Society and the CL Boat Access Society.
Electoral Area ‘D’/Rural Grand Forks
- $1000 toward the Grand Forks Community Christmas Dinner, attended by 350 people.
Electoral Area ‘E’/West Boundary
- $3,000 to the Beaverdell Community Club & Recreation Commission to operate the Friends Helping Friends weekly meal program.
- $500 to The Bridge Drop-in Centre for food preparation and distribution at the drop-in centre.
- $300 to Discover Rock Creek for a backdrop, heating costs, copying costs and supplies.
- $300 to the Greenwood Community Association for the Christmas Day Dinner attended by 100 people.
- $500 to the Greenwood Food Bank/West Boundary Food Bank to supply and deliver nutritious food boxes monthly to those in need in the West Boundary in partnership with other providers.
- $6,000 to the Kettle River Food Share Society for a volunteer coordinator for the 2019 Food Share Program.
- $594.62 and $300 to the Rock Creek Community Medical Society for a Community Barbecue for Canada Day Celebrations and the Rock Creek Medical Centre Year End Community Open House, respectively.
- $835.80 to the Trails to the Boundary Society to cover costs of four members who attended the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association General Meeting and Tourism Summit in November 2018.
- $1,000 to the Trails to the Boundary Society for purchase of membership shares in the new West Boundary Community Services Cooperative Association.
The next board meeting is on Wednesday, December 12 at 4:30 p.m. in our Trail office.
