Joan McMurray presented Keremeos Village Council with an update on the Similkameen Valley Planning Society’s Tourism Advisory Council’s tourism strategy at the December 3 regular meeting of council.
McMurray offered council a look at the group’s logo concept to date, in addition to providing views of TAC’s website pages.
Council approved a written request from the Christmas Hamper Fund to use the Victory Hall to prepare and package Christmas hampers on December 19 and 20. Council agreed to provide up to $515 in assistance from the Presentations, Awards and Donations account.
Council received a letter from the Ministry of Social Development regarding the benefit rate for persons with disabilities.
The village will be picking up the costs to send council members to three conventions next year. Mayor Bauer, and Councillors Arlow and Thielmann are scheduled to attend the following conventions (at an estimated total cost of $10,200):
SILGA (Southern Interior Local Government Association) – Mayor Bauer and Councillor Arlow, at an estimated cost of $1,170 per attendee.
FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) – Councillor Thielmann, at an estimated cost of $2,140 per attendee.
UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities) – Mayor Bauer and Councillor Thielmann, at an estimated cost of $2,860 per attendee.
A recommendation coming out of an in camera session on November 26 was carried by council, in which Diehl Management Services was awarded the contract to perform an organizational structure and salary review on the Village of Keremeos, at a cost of $6,790. The report will be due by February 18 of 2013.
Chief Administrative Officer Laurie Taylor provided a report pertaining to Keremeos Irrigation District’s water reservoir project, which council received for information.
Council also received a report pertaining to the Election Procedure Bylaw for information, prior to giving first, second and third readings to the Election Procedure Bylaw itself.
New business for council included appointments of council members as acting mayors for 2013. Council also approved next year’s regular meeting dates in addition to approving council’s committee / liason reports. In separate appointments, Mayor Bauer was once again named as the village’s representative on the regional district board, and Councillor Thielamann was re-appointed as Okanagan Regional Library representative for the village.
