A proposal by a local citizen to institute a massive fund-raising program to offset construction costs at Creston and District Community Complex (CDCC) got a lukewarm reception at Creston town council Jan. 10 regular meeting.
Michael Bunn appeared before council as a delegation to present his proposals (as outlined in Bunn’s recent letter to the editor), asking for a show of hands of which councillors would volunteer to help.
“That’s a little premature,” was Mayor Ron Toyota’s response.
Toyota explained that CDCC is operated by the Regional District of Central Kootenay and any proposed activities would have to be approved by the Regional District of Central Kootenay and CDCC.
“We are a part of the RDCK, but we don’t operate the facility or make decisions about it,” Toyota said.
“I also have concerns about some of the fund-raising ideas,” he added. “We have about 300 organizations in this valley that rely on different events to operate and for some, a major event each year provides most of their operating funds. I don’t want to get into competing with volunteer groups.”
Coun. Tanya Ducharme echoed Toyota’s concerns, applauding Bunn’s initiative but cautioning him against eroding the ability of volunteer organizations to raise funds for activities.
Toyota added that the RDCK is committed to exploring ways of addressing the additional renovation costs at CDCC without adding to taxation levels for the service in its 2012-2013 budget.
Later in the meeting, councillors voted to receive Bunn’s presentation for information.
Council Briefs
•Glad Tidings Pentecostal Church Pastor Carl Sawler opened the meeting with a preamble to his invocation, thanking the Town of Creston and the entire community for the successful annual Christmas hamper project, which distributed 440 hampers in December.
•Coun. Wes Graham was absent. He was accompanying Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks on a tour of his constituency, which extends west to the Arrow Lakes.
•RCMP Staff Sgt. Bob Gollan presented his third-quarter report, summarizing police activities from October-December 2011.
•Council requested more information before responding for a request for funds from the International Selkirk Loop. The funds are to be used to sponsor a Nikon Birding Adventures TV production, which is televised on NBC.
•Council voted not to send members to an elected official seminar in Nelson in February, in part because it conflicts with a planned community-to-community session with the Lower Kootenay Band. Graham will attend in his capacity of chair of the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments.
•A letter from Kokanee Springs Golf Resort protesting a proposed ban on pesticides in the province was received for information.
•Toyota and staff will participate in a webinar (Internet seminar) for a technical briefing on details of the newly signed contract with the RCMP to continue to provide policing services in B.C.
•Council will provide a letter of support for a plan to create a food system strategy for the West Kootenay.
•Town manager Lou Varela recommended that the Town of Creston not allow the RDCK to pull out of funding the Jaws of Life program unless alternative arrangements are in place.
