The Village of Canal Flats has been busy preparing for a variety of projects around the community many of which will be worked on throughout the summer. Council met on Monday, April 10th to discuss some of these projects, hear new development proposals, and discuss bylaws.

Currently underway east of the village, the community wildfire protection project is actively removing underbrush and junipers in the area. Mayor Ute Juras stated there may be some tree cutting happening as well, and that this removal of forest fuel is a proactive measures to ensure the safety of the community. The village is responsible for $20,000 of the project, while the budget for the project totaled at $202,000. Canal Flats received a grant from UBCM of $181,800 for the project.

“Funding is provided through UBCM and the Village. We are looking into possible funding opportunities through Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) as well as they have contributed in the past,” said Juras.

Council discussed the upgrade project to the arena, awarding an architect contract to Fairbanks Architects of Nelson, B.C.. The village has been working to apply for funding to cover the cost of the work on the arena, as the projected cost is $340,000.

“The village received $250,000 from CBT to undergo upgrades to the arena. The project will include additional dressing rooms, accessible entrance, cladding, and insulation,” said Juras.

Mayor Juras said the village will pursue any other grants that become available for the project.

At Monday’s meeting council heard first and second reading of the Dubois property development proposal. The Dubois proposal includes an amendment to the existing bylaw that would allow them to subdivide their property into three parcels. Currently, the property is zoned as an A1 rural resource requiring lot size to have a minimum number of hectares. This is the second time the proposal has been in front of the council, as council recommended the applicants remove the MH from their R1-MH application. By removing the MH application, the applicant had to resubmit a new rezoning application to the council. This development proposal will go through a public hearing process on May 8th at 6 p.m..

“After the public hearing council will have third reading of the bylaw. At that time we can either support it, deny it or ask the applicant to consider changes. If the bylaw is supported, it will move to adoption,” said Juras.

Council discussed Bylaw 184, cited as Village of Canal Flats park land acquisition reserve fund transfer, which would allow the council to transfer $60,000 from the parkland acquisition fund into Village of Canal Flats Capital Projects Statutory Reserve Fund.

“Typically any monies collected through the parkland requirements of the Local Government Act can only be used for future parkland acquisitions. By establishing this bylaw we will be able to transfer money out of the parkland reserve into a capital projects reserve fund,” said Juras.

The bylaw received first, second, and readings now the community will wait on approval from the province of British Columbia.