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Highlights from Nakusp Village Council Nov. 8 meeting

Highlights from Nakusp Village Council Nov. 8 meeting

Portable speed bumps coming along smoothly

Councillor Hughes has asked for staff recommendations in regards to location and policy around speed bumps to clarify where they may be placed and why, and for feedback from Emergency Services about working around the placement of the speed bumps along the beach and 8th Avenue.

Share your lake views

Mayor Hamling reminded council that the public meeting about lake shore development will be taking place at 6:30 p.m. on November 21 at the Emergency Services Building.

Lighten up

The holiday lights will go on along Broadway November 25, the same day as the Christmas parade.

Pining fir some

sprucing up

As part of her reports to council, Mayor Hamling said the Downtown/Park Select Committee will be selecting projects to receive portions of the $5,000 funding earmarked to spruce up the downtown area.

Promising prognosis

Hamling also mentioned that there is the possibility that a medical intern fresh out of school may be here by next summer. The student was introduced to the town a few weeks ago, and it sounds like he may return to practise.

Entreating

participation in the CRT information

session

The mayor reminded council that folks who come to the Columbia River Treaty will be treated to dinner at 6 p.m., and the information session will follow at 7 p.m.

Rec the halls

Councillor Joseph Hughes reported that the Recreation Committee, will be deciding on projects that will be receiving winter recreation grants next week.

Developing a plan...

Councillor Cam Leitch reported that the Board is now working on forming relationships between different groups in town, based on the information gathered from last year’s information sessions and the resulting meetings of the board.

Good bylaws make good neighbours

There will be some adjustments made to a proposed good neighbour bylaw drafted by council to “regulate and reduce nuisances, disturbances and other objectionable activities and things that may occur on private or public property,’ but the bylaw passed the first and second reading this week. This new bylaw is larger in scope than the existing noise and untidy premises bylaws, both of which will be repealed once this bylaw is adopted.

Not going down the drain

A sewer regulation bylaw amendment aims to prevent dangerous and noxious materials  being dumped into the Village sewer lines.

Budgeting

for the future

Chief Financial Officer Don Willems presented the annual financial statements to the council. Highlights included his assessment that the council has done its duty to increase the capability for future growth and economic development by upgrading and developing municipal infrastructure. Approximately $6 million dollars have been invested in facilities and infrastructure, mostly through grant money garnered. Some debt has been taken on as well, but this isn’t a bad thing, in this case, Willems explained.

“In terms of municipalities, debt is a tool to be used even if there is a surplus,” Willems said because it ensures future residents will pay for it as well, rather than having current residents footing the whole bill. Spreading out the debt makes taxation more stable over time, rather than having taxation be astronomical one or two years in order to try and pay for projects taking place that year which will serve the community long into the future. Willems also said that a one per cent increase in taxation would only result in $8,000 in revenue for the Village, so raising the taxation rate to try and clear the debt isn’t an option.

An amount of $810,000 was borrowed and is to be paid back over 20 years. Approximately $108,000 of that amount was used for the Emergency Services building, with the rest going to maintenance at the Nakusp Hot Springs.

Even with this debt, Willems said the Village’s debt is low, leaving a lot of room for future borrowing, if necessary.

See you at the Springs

Councillor Leitch asked if any future surplus revenue from the Hot Springs would be put into the Hot Springs reserves and not the Village coffer, and Willems confirmed this was the case.

Willems also stated that at the moment, the Hot Springs is running at a slight deficit, but that the Hot Springs Commission was working hard to increase attendance. Councillor Hughes said this was true, and that the Commission was aiming to have the Hot Springs at least break even by the end of the year.