District of Clearwater has once again received a clean bill of health plus a pat on the back from its auditors.
Speaking during a town council meeting held April 7, Mario Piroddi of BDO Canada said, “I’m happy to report that we will present a clean audit again.”
He praised the municipality for its light debt load, which at $260 per person is much lower than the B.C. average.
He also praised the municipality for having adequate reserve funds and then using them to complete capital projects – rather than going into debt.
“You are showing prudent financial management,” he said.
Total revenues last year were about $4 million, while expenses totalled $5.1 million.
Piroddi noted that, except for a delay in receiving federal Gas Tax grants, the municipality would have been slightly under budget last year.
Staff to price new cenotaph
Town council approved in principal a request from Legion Branch 259 to replace, relocate and register a new cenotaph for Clearwater.
Staff was directed to investigate the necessary steps and design options for a new cenotaph, which would be located at Dutch Lake Community Centre.
Staff is also to research possible funding for the project.
Legion representative Joe Short had told council during an earlier meeting that the present cenotaph in Reg Small Park was falling apart. He also pointed out the traffic hazards involved in holding a parade and having a crowd of people along a busy street on Remembrance Day.
Musical evenings get support
District of Clearwater council voted April 7 to allocate $5,000 to provide seed funding for nine summer evening music events at Dutch Lake Community Centre.
The money also will be used to host a weekend music workshop and to help purchase as sound system (with the caveat that the system be available for use by local groups).
The money will go to North Thompson Musicians Guild through Yellowhead Community Services.
Septage fees set
Trucks bringing septic tank sludge into the new septage treatment plant next to the District’s sewage lagoon on the Flats will pay a flat rate of $80 for the first 4.55 cubic metres (1,000 gallons), council decided.
The charge will be $17.60 for each additional cubic meter.
Operators also will need to pay a $100 deposit before getting access to the facility, which is designed so no staff need to be present while it is being used.
Other jurisdictions are more expensive but they probably have more debt, commented director of finance Sheila Thiessen.
She noted that the cost of operating the facility plus the volume it will handle are still unknown.
Thiessen said the bylaw could be amended at any time but generally would be looked at each year.
“There was talk before that it would need to be trucked to Heffley Creek.” said Mayor John Harwood. “This is much better.”
Councillor Dennis Greffard, who operates a septic tank sludge disposal business, left the room during the discussion.
Thompson-Nicola Regional District is overseeing the construction of the facility, which will serve Areas A and B (Wells Gray Country and Thompson Headwaters), as well as District of Clearwater.
The septage receiving station is expected to open late this month or early May.
