The Village of Canal Flats council met on January 24 to discuss various items on the agenda, a last-minute addition being snow removal.
Residents attending the meeting explained that the connecting roads from Granger Road to Hwy 93/95 have not been properly plowed or sanded as of late when they should be. Walkways have been slippery and icy as well and not maintained on weekends. The council is now in the process of drafting a policy, once the frequency of walkway maintenance occurrence has been considered.
“Thanks to those who do their own maintenance on their walkways, it is appreciated,” Bruce Woodbury, mayor of Canal Flats, said in regards to the public who have been diligent about shovelling and sanding their own sidewalks and driveways in the absence of winter maintenance.
The Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) Community Initiatives and Affected Areas Program was brought before council. The program funds local projects, with funds allocated by municipalities and the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK). Council differed the topic to the next meeting, as it is hoping to apply for the program after a joint-community meeting has been arranged to discuss the application.
Statistics Canada’s new National Household Survey (NHS) will be taking place in Canal Flats in May 2011. The NHS helps to provide important information in communities for to plan family services, housing, roads, public transportation and skills training for employment.
The RDEK Board gave three readings to Bylaw No. 2289, “Extended Service (Regional Parks) Area Establishment Bylaw” on January 7, where the bylaw was amended to add Canal Flats and the Village of Radium Hot Springs as participants. The regional parks service bylaw also pre-dates the incorporation of the two municipalities, meaning that their participation was set out in the incorporating letters patent. The Canal Flats council is to give consent of the pre-dated addition to the bylaw by February 8.
A Towns for Tomorrow grant application was approved during the last council meeting, with the grant funds going towards rebuilding the Canal Flats arena’s compressor, foundations, bleachers and front entrance enhancement (to accommodate greater disability access).
The project grant is estimated at $92,000, and the total project cost is estimated at $124,000.
The RDEK Board requests that Canal Flats council provide their expectations of the arena improvements.
Council moved o request an informal service review of the arena from the RDEK Board to look at scenarios for the proposed upgrades.
“The flooring is a major issue,” said Chief Administration Officer Brian Woodward. “We need to start the [upgrading] project as soon as possible. If we don’t start by at least 2012, we may fail.”
A private party has also requested to operate a concession stand in Tilley Memorial Park.
Council supported this request, with the proposal that all interested in opening concessions submit requests to council, with a closing date of February 25.
Private parties would then appear before council during their first meeting in March.
“Now that Canal Flats owns the park, concession requests are easier,” said Woodbury.
Council will be considering party responsibilities for cleaning-up around their concession stand, as first brought before council by a resident.