Invermere council voted to support the Regional District of East Kootenay’s (RDEK) proposed fire protection service area boundary amendments during the final council meeting prior to last Saturday’s municipal election.
The changes of the boundaries will see parts of Wilmer and the Toby Benches, as well as Larch Point, added to the Invermere fire protection area, while some part of Juniper Heights will be shifted from the Invermere fire protection area to the Windermere fire protection area. Among the documents council members received on the matter during the Wednesday November 12th council meeting was feedback from Invermere deputy fire chief Jason Roe, indicating the Invermere fire department supports the changes.
“If our fire department is in favour of it, we as a council should back that up,” said councillor Greg Anderson during discussion on the topic. Council member were unanimous in their vote to support the changes.
Movember Mile
Council members voted unanimously to authorize the Movember Mile, with several members expressing desire to participate this year.
Jumbo: Agree to disagree
Provincial Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Coralee Oakes sent Invermere council at letter, received at the October 12th meeting, responding to concerns raised by council members about Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort Municipality.
“I understand your position on the incorporation of the Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort Municipality and, on this point, I think we will have to respectfully disagree,” said Ms. Oakes in the letter. “While it is not without challenges, incorporation can support the early development of a resort, providing a strong foundation for a well-planned community with high-quality services and public amenities. In addition, incorporation as a mountain resort municipality allows access to resort specific tools in the Local Government Act that are not available to municipalities generally.”
In the letter, Ms. Oakes also addressed the issue of police services being used in the Jumbo Valley.
“The Jumbo Glacier Resort area is policed by the RCMP service out of the Columbia Valley detachment. The province of British Columbia is aware of the impact that large developments such as the Jumbo Glacier Resort have on the policing and Ministry of Justice staff are working with the RCMP to explore ways to mitigate those impacts,” wrote Ms. Oakes.
“We’ll have to file this under the ‘respectfully agree to disagree on Jumbo’ file. Fair enough,” said Invermere mayor Gerry Taft during council’s brief discussion on the letter.
Taft had tabled a motion at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) meeting in Whistler in late September criticizing the provincial funding for Jumbo Glacier Mountain Resort Municipality since it does not yet have residents.