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RDKB swears-in fire chief, approves gas tax application

The April RDKB meeting saw the swearing-in of a new fire chief and the audited financial statements.

The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary held its regularly scheduled Board of directors meeting in Grand Forks in April, swearing in a new fire chief at Christina Lake and passing several grant in aid motions.

Fire Chief for Christina Lake

New fire chief Martin Christman was officially sworn in, taking over from former fire chief Ken Gresley-Jones. Gresley-Jones gave remarks before the meeting began, as did Area C/Christina Lake director Grace McGregor, thanking both men for their service in keeping the community safe.

Audited Financial Statements

The board heard and approved the audited financial statements for 2016. The statements were presented by Don Catalano from Grant Thorton.

Agricultural Land Reserve

The board discussed a staff report from RDKB planner Ken Gobeil regarding an application by Ponderosa Estates to remove some lands in Christina Lake from the Agricultural Land reserve. The board will be forwarding the plan to the Agricultural Land Commission with a recommendation against removing the land from the ALR.

Policies and procedures

The board approved numerous policies and procedures, including the Fire Department Service Level Policy, the Correspondence Policy and the Purchasing Policy and Procedure. Each policy details provides guidance on the district’s response and responsibilities. The policies were approved for distribution.

Building fee waiver

The board discussed a request to have building permit fees from 2012 credited towards a 2016 building permit. The request was submitted by Dennis Skuter from Mountain Sky Properties for the Big White area. The permit is for the final stage of the Stone Gate building, and was note completed in 2012. Skuter paid $25,210, which he asked the board to consider crediting towards his permit for 2016.

The board discussed the request, mainly concerned with setting precedent. The board was opposed to considering the request.

Board appointment updates

The board heard several updates from members appointed to boards. Board chair Grace McGregor noted in her capacity as a board appointee that the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust (SIDIT) is having its annual general meeting at Sun Peaks Resort in June.

Area E/West Boundary director Vicki Gee, who is appointed to the Okanagan Film Commission, noted the commission is holding its annual general meeting in Grand Forks, also in June.

Change of location

The board approved a change of location and date for the May meeting of the board of director. The meeting has been moved from Thursday, May 25 in Trail at 6 p.m. to Wednesday, May 24 in Grand Forks at 4:30 p.m.

Pedestrian Bridge at Christina Lake

The board received a staff report from RDKB manager of facilities and recreation Tom Sprado regarding the application for gas tax funding for the proposed Christina Lake Pedestrian Bridge.

The board approved the RDKB’s application to the UBCM gas tax program service strategic priorities Fund for $1.6 million for the construction of a pedestrian bridge at Christina Lake.

Grant in aid

The board approved the grant-in-aid requests of the following: Grand Forks ATV Club for $3,600 and $500 respectively; the Christina Lake Recreation Commission for $1,000; the Kettle Valley Fire service for $25,000; the Granby Wilderness Society for $2,000; and the Trails to the Boundary Society for $904.47.

Discussion at the board table

Just before the conclusion of the meeting, McGregor thanked the board for their discussion of the items presented throughout the evening, noting there has been some criticism in the past of the amount of discussion that takes place at the board level rather than the committee level. McGregor said she felt the evening’s meeting fostered a fair amount of discussion and thanked the directors for their thoughtful comments and discussion.