Kaslo Council has a clear plan for the upcoming years after approving its strategic priorities.
In October, council and senior staff participated in two sessions to brainstorm strategic topics, explore possible solutions, and determine which will be priorities for council’s remaining two years in office.
Priorities are divided into three sections: Now, Next, and After.
Council will focus on ‘Now’ priorities in 2025. Some include continued consideration of the South Beach RV park proposal; Kemball Building renovations; water treatment plant upgrades; Vimy Park improvements; wastewater treatment plan designs; arena upgrades; drafting accessibility and active transportation plans; and a development plan for South Kaslo.
‘Next’ priorities include Moyie Amphitheatre slope stabilization; Kaslo Bay Park washrooms; a generator for City Hall; a McDonald Creek water supply contract; pressure reducing valves; public engagement and communications; and reviewing bylaws and policies.
‘After’ priorities include asset management; a water protection plan; more wastewater treatment plant upgrades; accessibility and kitchen upgrades at the arena; and work on the new library building project (if funding is received).
South Beach website
A new page on the Village’s website regarding the South Beach development proposal is now live for the public. Staff reports and documents from as far back as July 2023 can be viewed at kaslo.ca/p/land-use-development.
Four more letters from residents with concerns about the South Beach RV Park proposal were received at this council meeting.
Fire Chief’s update
Fire Chief Eric Graham gave a presentation on the Kaslo and Area Volunteer Fire Department. This was Graham’s inaugural year as chief, having started mid-February.
The department has 18 active members – the fire chief, an assistant fire chief, two captains, two lieutenants, 10 firefighters, and two Lardeau Valley medical first responders. Five new recruits joined the team this year, and at the upcoming annual banquet in December, they will honour three members for long-term service milestones – five, 10, and 15 years.
To date, they’ve had 154 incidents and calls in 2024, up from last year’s 143. It’s an upwards trend, said Graham, with 128 calls in 2022.
Regular training sessions focus on basic and advanced firefighter techniques, with once-a-month sessions on medical first responder skills. The team completed the Wildland Firefighter Level 1 course, and participated in joint training exercises with Balfour Harrop Fire Rescue, and a full-scale exercise with Kaslo Search and Rescue, the RCMP, and BC Emergency Health Services.
The regional district implemented a new fire training program, which the department partakes in. The standardized training helps with mutual and automatic aid with other departments, said Graham.
The team got out in the community. A few highlights: a FireSmart fuel management exercise in lower Kaslo; taking J.V. Humphries students on a fire hall tour; outreach at the Saturday market during Fire Prevention Week; and engaging with local neighbourhoods for FireSmart education.
The department received a $31,200 CBT grant to equip and outfit its new wildland medical response vehicle, which Graham hopes will be up and running by late spring 2025.
They plan to replace Engine 491 in 2027, which is estimated to cost $750,000. The purchasing process will begin early 2025. It will take anywhere between 18 and 24 months for the manufacturer to deliver the engine.
Lake water quality monitoring
The Village will apply for the Province of B.C.’s Infrastructure Planning Grant Program for funding to conduct lake water quality monitoring, as recommended by the Liquid Waste Monitoring Committee.
“Council has recently considered its strategic priorities through 2025 and indicated that design for the expansion of the wastewater treatment plant is a high priority. Gathering data from lake water quality monitoring may influence the plant’s design, and could bolster an application for major grant funding if council chooses to proceed with expansion,” said chief administrative officer Robert Baker in his report to council.
The program funds 100 per cent of the first $5,000 spent on eligible costs. Costs exceeding $5,000 are funded at 50 per cent, to a maximum grant total of $10,000.
If the application is successful, the Village would hire a contractor to perform the work. The project is expected to cost $15,000: $10,000 for the contractor, and $5,000 in administrative expenses, which can be paid for through the Village’s operating budget.
Imperial Oil parking lot
The Village will inform Imperial Oil that it wishes to extend a licence agreement to continue using land on Fifth Street, next to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, as a public parking lot.
Owned by Imperial Oil, the 1.19-acre parcel has been used as a parking lot since 2012. If the company agrees, the new five-year term will end October 2030 and will cost $1 per year.
Sixth Street land disposition
The Village will sell a small parcel of municipal land to the property owner of 515 Sixth Street. The owner will pay $718, plus all legal costs and filing fees.
The owner recently submitted a subdivision application to consolidate several lots. Six are owned by the applicant, and one is the 105-square-foot lot in question.
In the 1970s, the owner was granted permission from the Village to use the lot, which is adjacent to their property. Since then, they’ve built a concrete pad on the land for a garage.
During the October 22 council meeting, Baker said the subdivision application was incentive for the owner to finally purchase the land, which is surrounded by private property with no legal access or value to anyone other than the owner. Since they’ve been using the land for over 50 years, Baker said it made sense for the Village to sell it to them.
