Cache Creek Council meeting on Jan. 24.
Roll Call: Mayor John Ranta and councillors Jim Loucks (via Skype), Ida Makaro and Darrell Rawcliffe. Absent: Coun. Wyatt McMurray.
Variety Club Bingo
Coun. Ida Makaro asked the mayor what was happening with the Variety Club Bingo since she had heard that a date had been set but no one had notified Council members, who volunteer their time at the bingo.
Mayor John Ranta replied that the Cache Creek Recreation Commission, who used to hold the bingo license for the event and assist Cache Creek and Ashcroft councils in holding the bingo, has stated that it is not appropriate for them to host a bingo for another group on their gaming license or to raise money for another group.
The Rec Commission presented the same issue to the Village of Ashcroft last year, whose turn it was to host the bingo.
Ranta said that Village staff approached him with the problem of who would organize the bingo, which needs a gaming license, liability insurance, cards and equipment and a knowledge of bingo as well as volunteers. Ranta said he suggested that they look for another service group to host the bingo.
Neither the Kinsmen nor the Lions could host it. Ranta said he then directed staff to make the bingo happen somehow.
“Those who support Variety Club want the opportunity to support their favourite charity,” he said.
“I feel bad that staff have to do that,” said Makaro. “The bingo has always been a community function.”
Ranta said Barb Shaw has agreed to help them. “We’re lucky to have someone of her calibre,” he said.
Coun. Darrell Rawcliffe, also a Lions member, said the Lions are not allowed to run a bingo for anyone else. Members can help at other bingos, but they can’t wear their Lions uniforms.
As reported at the Jan. 20 Seniors Association meeting, the Variety Club Bingo will be held on Monday, Feb 7 in the Cache Creek Community Hall. Doors open at 6 pm.
Ashcroft Rodeo
Council agreed to donate $500 to the annual Ashcroft Rodeo again. The donation buys a Platinum Sponsorship for the June 18-19 event.
Carpet Bowling
Council agreed to waive rental fees and damage deposit for the Ashcroft-Cache Creek Seniors’ Association annual bowling tournament, happening on Apr. 7-8.
Grad Class
Council agreed to waive the rental fee for the 2011 Grad Class’s Graduation Dinner and Prom, subject to the organizers being able to work with the Graffiti Days Committee if there’s a conflict.
Grad and Graffiti Days take place on the same weekend, June 8/9, and last year there was talk about sharing decorations so the organizers wouldn’t be in a rush to take them down for one event and put them up for the other than took place immediately afterwards.
Mayor John Ranta said that although Graffiti Days chair Ben Roy resigned after last year’s event, he will meet with volunteers this Spring to make sure the event continues.
“Neither Village nor Chamber wants to see the event die,” said Ranta.
Rick Hansen Tour
Coun. Makaro asked that the matter be held in abeyance until the Fall and brought forward under the new council to see if there’s any interest. There is a municipal election this year on Nov. 19.
From December 2010 to May 2012, the Rick Hansen Foundation will engage in a variety of activities worldwide to mark the 25th anniversary of the Man in Motion World Tour.
Ranta said there might not be sufficient planning time after the election to start planning.
Coun. Jim Loucks attended the meeting from Pemberton via Skype, as he has done several times now. He suggested that the Village’s activities co-ordinator set up an activity night which could also be the venue for an activity by the Rick Hansen Foundation, if they choose to hold one in Cache Creek.
Council agreed to hold the matter in abeyance until late Summer/early Fall.
Seniors’ Coffee Talk
Coun. Rawcliffe reported on a Coffee Talk meeting with local seniors to gather their thoughts on the Parks and Recreation Trails plan that the Village is working on. Rawcliffe reported that only two seniors attended the meeting that was advertised by word of mouth and posters.
Solid Waste
In light of recent news regarding the reduced amount of solid waste that Metro Vancouver is sending to the Cache Creek Landfill, Mayor Ranta told Council: “We will continue to work with Wastech and MV to the best of our ability to maintain jobs at the landfill.”
He said the Annex has enough room to extend the life of the ladfill until 2013. The Comprehensive Agreement) between Metro Vancouver and Wastech goes until 2016.
Ranta added that the Extension, which hasn’t been approved yet, doesn’t have the same constraints as the rest of the landfill and the Village can accept municipal waste from other municipalities without Metro Vancouver’s approval.
Next Meeting
Council will meet on Feb. 14 at 7 pm.
