The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary held their board meeting on Jan. 29 in Grand Forks. At that meeting, the Advisory Planning Commissions (APC) for each electoral area were approved.
In Area C/Christina Lake under director and board chair Grace McGregor, the APC group will consist of Dave Bartlett, Peter Darbyshire, David Durand, Jennifer Horahan, Terry Mooney, Butch Bisaro, Don Nelson and Jeff Olsen.
In Area D/Rural Grand Forks under director Roly Russell, the APC is Bob DeMaertelaere, Edith MacAllister, Deb Billwiller, Lesley Matthews, Werner Behrens, Andrew Novokshonoff and David Reid.
The APCs help guide the electoral area director in making important decisions regarding land use planning.
The Grand Forks and District Recreation Commission was also appointed and will consist of Gene Robert, Cindy Strukoff, Dean Engen, Ken Johnston and George Longden.
Appointed to the Christina Lake Parks and Recreation Commission were Dave Beattie, Paul Beattie, Carlo Crema, Bob Dupee, Dan Marcoux, Don Nelson, Liz Stewart, Dianne Wales, Larry Walker and Brenda Auge.
Funding for speckled dace
The RDKB received a letter from Leona Aglukkaq, the minister of the environment, informing them on receiving approval for funding for the Habitat Enhancement and Restoration Program for Speckled Dace in the Kettle River. The funding is approved for up to $30,000.
Age friendly planning
The RDKB was informed by letter that the project Charting a Course for an Age-friendly Christina Lake has received funding in the amount of $20,000.
The RDKB will receive a cheque for $14,000 shortly. The remaining 30 per cent will be available after a satisfactory final report and financial summary has been submitted to UBCM.
The funding is provided by the Ministry of Health.
Under the terms of the funding, the project must be completed within 12 months and no later than Dec. 31.
“We’ve been wanting to do this age-friendly study for the whole of Christina Lake for a while,” said Grace McGregor, area C/Christina Lake director and board chair. “What it’s for is to hire someone to hear what everybody wants coming down the road as this community ages. Not just the people that are 60 and 70 but everyone; what is their expectation in the community.”
CL bridge study
The RDKB board of directors approved $20,000 for a feasibility study on a pedestrian bridge over Christina Creek in Christina Lake. The study would look into the design and construct costs for the bridge.
The Christina Lake Parks and Rec Commission has already put out a request for proposal and selected MMM Group as the winning bidder to do the study.
Currently, the only crossing available to pedestrians is the sidewalk along the existing Crowsnest Highway Bridge. It is the RDKB’s intent to provide a safer transportation corridor for pedestrians and cyclists over Christina Creek.
The proposed pedestrian bridge would provide an alternative route by spanning over the waterway between Kimurab Road and Christina Road on the east and west stream banks respectively.
“What we’re trying to do is to have that project ready if there should be any grants at all that can fill the bill,” said McGregor. “It’ll allow us to cover a lot of the bases prior to (starting).”
Riparian site
The RDKB directors approved $42,762.11 in gas tax money for the Christina Lake riparian and wetland demonstration site and native plant nursery.
The project proposes to return portions of the foreshore of Christina Lake Community Nature Park to habitat indicative of native riparian/wetland ecological communities. These habitats help to ensure the long-term maintenance of water quality, wildlife habitat and proper filtration of upland contaminants such as septic leachate.
The project will also offer education opportunities for the public, landowners, school groups and hands-on involvement in the native plant nursery and demonstration site.
“It’s an exciting project,” said McGregor. “It’ll show everyone, even tourists, how riparian areas work. People will have something to look at and the actual plants that grow there.”
This multi-organizational collaboration will provide information from the data generated to be used regionally in other key riparian/wetland areas.
Grants-in-Aid
The RDKB directors approved the following grants-in-aid: Christina Gateway Community Development Assoc./Electoral Area C – $4,687.20; Boundary Country Regional Chamber of Commerce/Area C – $2,500, Area D – $2,500; Zone 6 Seniors Games/Area C – $500; Grand Forks Figure Skating Club/Area D – $1,000; and City of Grand Forks/Area D – $500.
Ground water monitoring
The RDKB board received a staff report from Goran Denkovski, engineering and safety coordinator, with recommendations for the selection of a consultant to complete groundwater monitoring for a three year term at RDKB solid waste facilities is presented.
Denkovski recommended that the board approve a contract between Bear Environment Ltd. and the RDKB in the amount of $79,835 for three years to complete groundwater monitoring at the Grand Forks Landfill, Rock Creek Transfer Station, Beaverdell Transfer Station, McKelvey Creek Landfill and West Boundary Landfill.
Mosquito control
In a staff report from the RDKB, Denkovski recommended a contract with Morrow Bioscience in the amount of $185,400 for three years to complete mosquito control in area C/Christina Lake and Area D/Rural Grand Forks including the City of Grand Forks.
The 2015 budget for mosquito control for Area C would be $14,900 and for Area D it would be $46,900. These relate to a 56-per-cent decrease in Area C and a 57-per-cent decrease in Area D including the City of Grand Forks.