Council has adopted the Roads and Traffic Bylaw; this means that the changes made are in effect. For the details on these changes, please check out the bylaw on the website. I do have one correction, however.  I reported in an earlier Mayor’s Message and Regional Rundown that one of these changes included that parking of recreational vehicles, boat trailers and utility trailers on boulevards was permitted from May 15th until September 30th. In fact, utility trailers are not included in this. The purpose of making this change was to allow residents with recreational vehicles and boat trailers to park them in front of their property during the season without having to put them into storage between trips.

At the last meeting, council authorized the chief administrative officer and the mayor to sign the Community Works Fund Agreement under the Administrative Agreement on the Federal Gas Tax Fund between the Village and the UBCM (Union of British Columbia Municipalities). This means that we will receive a guaranteed annual grant in the amount of $78,000 until 2024. The federal government also expanded the scope of eligible projects. For more detailed information on the agreement, check out the UBCM website at ubcm.ca.

At the same meeting, council authorized to apply $140,000 of our Roads and Paving budget to the repair of Grainger Road leading the beach.  Part of this cost of the paving will be funded by the Water Upgrade Project covering only the disturbances caused by crossing the road with waterlines. The additional funds will allow fixing of the remainder. The work will start within the next few weeks.

Final touches are happening with the Arena Retrofit Project, which is still being financed by the Canal Flats Recreation Area. This work includes the installation of new lighting, which will reduce annual user costs, and the installation of Low E ceilings in place of insulation.

Both of these projects came in well under budget due to the tireless efforts of our Arena Manager, Mathieu Fournier. Mathieu continues to work hard researching more cost-effective ways to achieve what has been approved in the budget. This due diligence will translate into us being able to fund additional small projects to improve the arena or reduce the tax requisition for the next two years. Thank you so much Mathieu for your continued efforts and dedication. It is very much appreciated!

Ute Juras is the mayor of Canal Flats and can be reached at 250-489-9070 or by e-mail at ujuras@gmail.com.