Keremeos Village Council received letters from the Ministry of Justice regarding earthquake preparedness in the village. Province wide consultations are taking place regarding the subject across the province. The nearest session to Keremeos will occur in Kelowna on May 29.
A request for a proclamation for Access Awareness Day was made by the Social Planning and Research Council of B.C. Coumcl proclaimed Saturday, June 7 as Access Awareness Day in the village.
Staff reports
Staff provided council with an updated operating agreement between Fortis BC Energy Inc. and the village for the provision of gas distribution facilities within village limits.
The new agreement removes Fortis’ exclusive right to provide gas distribution facilities wihin the village and decreases the term of the agreement from 21 to 20 years.
Fortis pays a fee of three per cent of its Keremeos revenue to the village in exchange for the ability to construct and maintain gas distribution infrastructure using village roads and rights of way.
Public Works Foreman’s Report
The village’s public works department is preparing for a busy summer, with one staff member on parental leave until mid October. It is expected the village public works foreman will be spending more time out of the office performing maintenance duties while inside staff assist with maintenance clerical work.
Municipal Waste Water Treatment
Staff were recently re-trained as they continue to provide the Ministry of Environment with groundwater samples as per MOE permit requirements.
The village is pondering their next move following the failure of the number two sludge pump. A new pump will cost $20,000 while the cost to rebuild the old one is estimated at $19,000.
Lift station work in the village will continue this year after the village received a report from Associated Engineering outlining the current conditions and risk assessments of the lift stations.
Capital project update
The village recently took delivery of a 2014 Ford F550 truck.
Village staff helped cut costs on the recent construction of the village’s park washrooms by dismantling the buildings and assisting in painting, foundation excavation, sod laying and other duties.
Victory Hall washroom upgrades are underway.
Roads, streets and sidewalks
Road improvements this year include rebuilding of Fourth Street from Twelfth to Eleventh Avenue along with the sidewalk, and storm drainage and parking area rebuild on Sixth Avenue between Seventh and Sixth Street.
Staff are meeting with engineers to review plans and develop tender packages.
Engineers are currently developing plans to deal with the deteriorating water mains and service connections in the downtown core from Fourth Street to Eighth Street, and from Sixth Avenue to Veterans Avenue.There may be funding available for this work through the Gas Tax Program.
