Council approves grant

Greenwood council gets update on health unit reno costs, supports keeping the recycle bin and hears concerns about the accommodation tax.

Greenwood council header

Greenwood council header

In the print edition of this article we made a mistake when we reported

the cutoff date for ten per cent discount on Greenwood utility bills.

The correct date is Feb. 28. We regret the error.

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At their regular meeting on Monday, Greenwood council received a delegation from the Boundary Invasive Species Committee. Barb Stewart and Bill Baird came to request support for the work of the group. Council approved the $1,100 grant.

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During review of the minutes from the previous meeting it was noted that no mention had been made of resident John Martin’s offer of a $1,000 donation to go toward the campground if it were moved from its current location.

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Greenwood council voted to support the Village of Midway’s position that the unmanned recycling trailers should be left in their current locations and the service not be considered for elimination.

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Administrator Robin Dalziel gave council an update on expenses for the health unit renovation. “While there is a bit more to do, the majority of the work has been completed on the health unit,” Dalziel said. He reported costs of $1,341 for Internet service upgrades, flooring came in at $8,844 and building renovations cost $5,492; for a total of $15.677 to date.

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Utility bills have been compiled and issued for the City of Greenwood. There is a 10 per cent discount for those residents who choose to pay by Feb. 28.

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Residents may purchase RDKB dog tags at City Hall. The price will double after Jan. 31

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Dalziel also reported he is working on eliminating inconsistencies that exist in the current house numbering in the city. He asks residents to contact City Hall if they have any house numbering issues that should be resolved.

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During the payment of accounts portion of the agenda, Coun. Darla Ashton asked for details regarding cheques, and while details will be forthcoming from staff, she was surprised to discover the cheques may have already been paid. She called for a review of the practice of paying cheques before council has voted on them. Mayor Ed Smith said the accounts payable process will be reviewed along with other policies.

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Meetings to set the 2015 budget meeting will start early in February. Announcements will be posted on the door at City Hall.

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Connie Nissen, owner of the Greenwood Motel, asked for clarification on the city’s position on the accommodation tax being proposed for overnight beds in the Boundary. “Will city support local motel owners or is council behind it already?” she asked.

Cindy Alblas, representing the Christina Gateway Association, came to the Jan. 13 council meeting to ask for support from council for the two per cent tax. Council has yet to take a position on the tax, noting that the decision belongs to the accommodation providers and not municipal council.

Jim Nathorst, president of the Greenwood Board of Trade, said that Alblas will be coming to the next BOT meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

Alblas is also hosting a meeting of all accommodators at the Community Futures Boundary office in Grand Forks on Tues, Feb 3 at 6 p.m.

“We just want to point out that we are strongly opposed to that [tax],” Nissen said.

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In other council happenings: a request from the fire department for a kitchen in the back room of the fire hall behind the truck bay and clean up room was referred to a later meeting; council adopted a workplace anti-bullying policy; and Mayor Ed Smith reported that a review of the policy manuals had begun.

“It will take some time but is a well needed thing,” he said.

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Because of Family Day, the next regular meeting of Greenwood council will be on Tuesday,

Feb. 10 at 7 p.m

 

Boundary Creek Times