CBBC talks broadband
First up was Mr. Richard Wake, Chief Technology Officer at Columbia Basin Broadband
Corporation (CBBC), who updated council on the CBBC broadband program.
CBBC owned 100 per cent by CBT, and its focus is on providing communities with self-sufficiency and sustainability through broadband access.
“Good connectivity in Nakusp has been a real challenge,” said Wake, as it has been in other areas in the Basin. Few companies are willing to take up the challenge, because no business case can be made for providing broadband to smaller centres. For most companies, there is an 18-month window to see returns on an investment, and that is rarely seen in many places in the Basin.
Still, there are business drivers for broadband such as video conferencing, remote offices, phone system integration, and so CBT stepped in to fill the gap with CBBC.
Now, thanks to CBBC, there is a wireless internet service provider (WISP) roundtable to figure out connectivity in rural areas, and broadband in many smaller rural centres.
One ingredient that is needed to get high speed connectivity in Nakusp is community support, said Wake, a community champion to get people on board.
And although CBBC owns fibre and switches, they need to collaborate with other companies like Telus in order to get lines into communities.
Once CBBC can do that, they will be able to offer shared services like mini-cloud services that will allow things like data backup via a regional server.
The value to smaller communities is that there is a larger IT department and budget available to them with regional services, Wake told council and staff.
The CBBC is aiming for open access, an internet highway for everyone sharing fibre, he said.
How it would work would be to map “key assets” in Nakusp (schools, library, firehall etc) in order to see the best way to run fibre through town. Locating a reliable power supply is a big factor, said Wake, so somewhere like the firehall that has power backup is a good choice.
CBBC requires a monthly fee of $750 as an ongoing investment, he said, a number that is quickly recouped if phone and internet are run through their fibre. The fee also covers $25,000 worth of electronics installed by CBBC.
Although the CBBC is willing to front the technology, the broadband can’t be run on a constant injection from CBT, Wake added. But getting high speed could be crucial to the survival of small communities in the region, he said.
“It’s as important as water to my mind,” he said, “I can’t guarantee hi-tech companies will move here with it, but I can guarantee they won’t without it.”
Hillclimb in Nakusp?
The newly-minted Nakusp Hot Springs Hillclimb Society presented their idea to hold a race up the Hot Springs Road in September 2014. Counc. Guy Duchaine took off his councillor hat and presented the idea along with local dentist and race enthusiast Donato DeSandoli, with Bonnie Hillis present as well.
After the Targa race held in May 2011, the group of folks who became the Hillclimb Society got together to discuss another race from the airport to the Nakusp Hot Springs. To learn more about the ins and outs of organizing a car race, they volunteered at the Knox Mountain Hillclimb.
With 14 and a half months until their proposed event, the group is navigating through all the paperwork and legal necessities to make it happen. They aim to have it be a community event and have the shop teacher on board to make signage for route.
One of the big steps forward is getting Village on board in principle, which was the reason for their visit to council on Monday night. Highways will be next, and then they will be working to be recognized by racing associations.
“We hope to put everybody’s mind at ease,” Desandoli told the council.
He also informed them that the race at Kelowna’s Knox Mountain brought 80 participants, plus two to three people per crew, family, observers, vendors, and more, to town. “It could turn into a big thing” DeSandoli said, comparing its potential to the Nakusp Music Fest. He mentioned Targa Newfoundland as an example, which he said brings in $16 million to the race area.
The 52 curves on Hot Springs Road and its many vertical curves are very exciting to drivers, said DeSandoli, (Knox Mountain has 14 curves).
Once counc. Duchaine had left the room for the discussion and vote, counc. Mueller suggests supporting the event in principle. The CAO said the big concern is shutting access to HS down, which would mean some financial loss as well as loss of access to campers. A report from staff is needed as part of due diligence, said the mayor. Council agreed to support the event in principle, pending the staff report.
Back up our power
Fosthall Creek Power Counc. Ulli Mueller said that the issue of constant power interruptions in Nakusp were one of two top issues (the other was ferries) identified by local businesses. Mueller suggested writing a letter to Hydro to ask what plans for electricity backup they had for Nakusp, particularly if power from the Fosthall IPP were not to become available. The response from BC Hydro was received as information and the matter was referred to staff.
Arena Ice Plant
An estimated maximum of $285,000 needs to be spent to repair the roof and address ventilation issues, so there will not be enough money to repair the envelope this year, CAO Linda Tynan told council.
“We have some info on the roof, but much more to come,” she said. Borrowing is not the only source of funding, as some money comes from the RDCK as well, but $375,000 can be borrowed this year.
The maximum needed to fix up the ice plant will be $135,000 this year, but money needs to be secured in order to get them up and running in time to have ice in the rink this winter.
“Staff has reason to be very hopeful the amount for the roof will be less,” Tynan added, and if the compressors are in better shape than they are thought to be, the cost to repair them will be significantly less. Actual costs will become clearer once inspections are done.
Financing takes a long to get into place, said CAO, so the process should be started now. The Village will be able to borrow more money next year if needed once firmer numbers are available after the inspections are done.
Wharf and dock reworked
The Columbia Power Corporation, Nakusp mayor Karen Hamling and the CAO met via teleconference about issues with the new marina. Engineers have now finished their redesign and will be starting work on the ramp shortly.
“There will be wheels attached to the ramp it will be able to be adjusted manually.” The engineers are confident that fixes will work, CAO Tynan said CPC told her and the mayor. The repairs were modelled on a dock that is already working. The mayor and CAO asked what the life expectancy of the wooden structure they’re building on. There will be a delay of at least three weeks due to materials being on order.
Footbridge nearly done
The footbridge up at the Nakusp Hot Springs is nearing completion. “It’s looking quite spectacular,” commented the CAO.
STP still
The Sewer Treatment Plant still has electrical issues and a proposal has been put out to the engineers and contractors.
SOFI
The 2012 Statement of Financial Information was approved by council. The SOFI lists the remuneration and expenses paid to the Villlage’s mayor, council and staff as well as payments to suppliers and was included in the agenda documents.
Nakusp water smart
From 2009 to 2012, Nakusp had a 20 per cent drop in water demand, according to the Columbia Basin Water Smart report. This exceeds the expectation of reduction in use, and the water conservation has been drive by best management practises and a rigorous pipe repair and replacement program. More savings could be made through reductions to municipal and residential irrigation demands. The average daily water use was 717 litres per day in 2012.
While the Village’s total average daily flow is below the Basin average, water use in the summer is three times higher than winter, the report stated. Reduction in peak water demand is the second major opportunity for water savings in Nakusp, read the report.
Annual report presentation
Annual Meeting Date for the presentation of 2012 annual report has been set for July 8 at the regular council meeting in chambers in Nakusp. Come out and see what’s been happening in the Village.
Hot Springs leaking less money
The five-month year to date report was accepted. Although there has been a $50,000 improvement this year, the springs are still running a deficit.