Hitting the highwayAt the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) conference, Coun. Bob Kendel and CAO Doug Allin met with representatives from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to discuss projects along Highway 3 and 33.“They’re continuing to invest into Highway 3,” said Allin. “(The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure) said they’re moving away from four lane passing lanes to three lane passing lanes, because they felt they can get more value for their money.”Ministry staff also said it would look into a possible flashing amber light at the intersection near Dr. Perley School.“We had a chat about the future plans for Highway 3 and to thank them for all the work done on Highway 33, which brings a lot of traffic to us,” said Kendel. “We talked again about getting the light at Perley School. The ministry representatives said they would take it under advisement.” Mormons at old Gazette officeThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints applied to the City of Grand Forks for a temporary use permit for commercial property located at 7255 Riverside Dr., the previous Gazette building.As part of the procedure to allow the temporary use permit, council needed to give notice that they intend to consider adopting a resolution allowing a temporary use permit.Notice must be officially delivered to all property owners within a 100-foot radius, at least 10 days before the meeting at which council intends to consider adopting the resolution.Notice must be published in a newspaper at least three times and not more than 14 days before the adoption of the resolution to issue the permit.At a committee of the whole meeting council would hear from any interested parties as to their input on the matter.Council approved the motion and now staff will draft the appropriate temporary use permit and publish notice of the bylaw in the paper, giving notice to surrounding property owners of the time and date of the committee of the whole meeting on Oct. 15.At that meeting people will be allowed to voice their opinion and concern with respect to the temporary use permit.Wyers at UBCMCoun. Cher Wyers met with Bill Bennett, minister of Energy and Mines, at UBCM to discuss the Columbia River Treaty.Although Grand Forks is not in the Columbia River Treaty (CRT) area, the city wanted to show their support for the treaty.The Columbia River Treaty is a 1964 agreement between Canada and the United States regarding the development of dams in the Columbia River basin for power and flood control benefits for both countries.The earliest either country can terminate the CRT agreement is 2024, but notice must be given 10 years prior.“We were there to give a letter of support,” said Wyers. “Even though we’re not part of the Columbia Basin Trust (an organization created to help communities affected by the CRT in B.C.), the decisions they make have a considerable impact on our region. We’re part of the regional district (with Trail), which sees a direct financial benefit. So any benefit they see there trickles down on our side in other forms.”