News from the Oct. 25 Nakusp Village Council meeting.
Addition to the Centennial addition
Arrow Lakes Historical Society (ALHS), library and museum representatives met on the evening of Monday October 23 to discuss ALHS plans for the addition to the Centennial building. The groups involved discussed who would be responsible for what portions of maintenance, utilities and upkeep, and all were clear about how costs would be shared.
After the permits were approved, council had a short discussion about the risk involved in the project, namely if ALHS was unable to raise funding that the taxpayers would be taking on the shortfall.
Councillor Mueller stressed the importance of a building for the archives and artefacts to be preserved, and noted the tenacity of ALHS.
“I have every confidence that they will be able to get funding,” she said.
Councillor Leitch commented that even if the Village ended up being responsible for some of the cost, they wouldn’t have to pay it all at once, that the cost could be distributed over time.
Council approved the CAO to negotiate a contract with ALHS for the construction of the addition to the Centennial building, and that once the contract was in place that ALHS’s construction project be approved.
Home Hardware
improvements
Home Hardware owners met with some of the residents living along the laneway behind the store in advance of the development variance being approved by council. Not all the residents were present, but one issue that came up wasn’t with building a ramp, but rather that many residents turn on the back of the property. Another that came up was snow clearing, and public works will be looking into that.
Both councillors Hughes and Leitch voiced their support for the project, and the development variance was passed unanimously.
Night lights
Public works reported that the cost of running decorative lights from December 16 to January 15 in 2010, the cost was $244.74 plus taxes. If the lights were left on until the end of January, it is projected to cost another another $125. Mayor Hamling remarked that the lights were nice to have on when it was dark and dreary in the middle of winter.
Getting the bumps
Fire chief Terry Warren wrote a letter to council against the proposed speed bumps for 8th and 10th Avenue to the beach as he believes they will interfere with emergency vehicle operations. Instead of speed bumps, Warren suggested an education program and using a traffic speed monitor rather than installing speed bumps.
Mayor Hamling moved to refer the issue back to staff and to look into portable speed bumps as a measure to see if there would be problems in the interim.
Councillor Hughes would like to encourage staff to set an example for all drivers in the area to obey the speed limits.
Smelly near the Deli
Cut Rite Deli has been sent a letter in regards to the smell coming from the laneway, but received no response. The CAO is looking into nuisance bylaws. The health department refused to deal with it, so the mayor has called the owner herself.
Water the Village right of ways
CAO Tynan has noted too that many people have built over Village sewer and water right of ways, so staff is currently preparing letters to remind property owners that access must be cleared for Village access.
Budget on track
Treasurer Don Willems gave his report, which in summary said that all departments were on track in terms of their budgets, noting in particular that the hot springs brought in a surplus last year even after servicing their debt and with a decline in revenue. This year, the springs will again at least hold their own.
In the zone
CAO Tynan recommended amending the LD-1 zoning to include single family dwellings an allowable usage and the OCP be amended to remove a statement discouraging single family dwellings in LD-1.
It was also recommended a public hearing be scheduled for the amendment to the zoning and the OCP to be held 6:30 p.m. Monday, November 21 at the Emergency Services Building. All recommendations were passed.
Happy trails
The Nakusp Trails Society sent a letter to council letting them know that the bridges and boardwalks on the Hot Springs Trail were surveyed, with seven bridges assessed to need replacing.
When they send their findings to Justin Dexter at the Ministry office, they were approved for funding, which will enable the bridges to be pre-fabricated in Castlegar and heli-lifted in to the site next spring. The Trails Society will be responsible for installing them.
Mayor Hamling remarked that it was amazing what people in the community could get accomplished when they put their minds to it.