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City of Grand Forks to apply for Community Recreation Program funding; fire chief retires

The City of Grand Forks said it will apply for a recreation infrastructure grant and recognized the retiring fire chief Monday.
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Mayor Brian Taylor (left) and Grand Forks city council recognized the work of Fire Chief Blair Macgregor (right) at Monday’s meeting.

With the swearing in ceremony behind it, Grand Forks city council got down to business at its meeting on Monday.

The city accepted a report from city staff regarding the submission of an application for recreation program funding – for recreational infrastructure.

According to information provided by the city, the province announced that local governments in B.C. could apply for Community Recreation Program funding in late-October, which would have a cost-sharing formula that would see the provincial government contributing 80 per cent to a maximum of $400,000.

The city also said that anything exceeding $400,000 (if Grand Forks was successful in its application) would have to come from city coffers – while local funding would vary, the city said that it “most certainly will be $100,000 if council is to take full advantage of maximum funding available.”

Coun. Michael Wirischagin proposed to accept the report and threw his support behind an option that would see upgrades to Dick Bartlett Park that would include a green gym, a water park and the completion of a bike path and walking route in the part of the City’s bike network plan with the city’s portion coming from the Slag Sales Revenue Reserve Fund.

The area runs south along 19th Street, west along 68th Avenue, north on 27th Street, east along Highway 3 to 25th Street, south to 72nd Avenue and east to Dick Bartlett Park.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to upgrade facilities not only for families but for seniors and especially with (Silver Kettle Village) going in there,” explained Wirischagin.

“I like the fact that it’s very localized,” Coun. Gary Smith said. “The rec centre’s there and it’s basically expanding the services that are available and it’s a central location.”

Coun. Cher Wyers expressed concerns about the use of the slag fund and wondered if there should be a “cap” put in but City Chief Administrative Officer Lynne Burch assured her that the numbers for that particular option were constant.

The motion carried and the deadline for application is Dec. 28.

In other council-related news, a long service recognition certificate was presented to Grand Forks’ Fire Chief Blair Macgregor who is set to retire at month’s end.

Grand Forks’ Heritage Advisory Design Panel Bylaw (1929), a bylaw, which was given its first three readings by the previous council, was given final reading – it is a bylaw that establishes and provides terms of reference for a Heritage Advisory Design Panel.

The first three readings for Bylaw 1931 (the City’s revenue anticipation borrowing bylaw) and 1930 (electrical utility regulatory amendment bylaw) were given as well – the bylaws will be given final reading at a future meeting.

In the case of Bylaw 1931, the Community Charter gives municipalities the authority to borrow money to cover obligations between January (the beginning of the fiscal year) and the day property taxes are due (in early July).

While Grand Forks has enough money to cover its obligations for a sizable amount of time, the revenue anticipation bylaw is a stipulation of a banking contract with the local credit union.

In the case of Bylaw 1930, Grand Forks has been advised that the wholesale electrical rate being charged to it by Fortis BC will increase by four percent on Jan. 1. More on this in a future issue.



Karl Yu

About the Author: Karl Yu

After interning at Vancouver Metro free daily newspaper, I joined Black Press in 2010.
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