Interior Health Authority accepts money for Arrow Lakes Hospital

In the Mayor’s Report, it was announce that Interior Health Authority has accepted the West Kootenay Boundary RegionalHospital Board’s offer of $100,000. This money will go toward the planning design for the Emergency Department renovationsat the Arrow Lakes Hospital. This now needs to go to the ministry for approval.

Bylaw amendments to be reconsidered and adopted

Village Council has accepted the proposal to reconsider and adopt amendments to the sewer and water bylaws. Theseamendments would mean an increase in sewer and water rates of ten per cent in the next five years. These increases areneeded because the village has had to dip into its contingency fund. This fund is needed for emergencies such as if a watermain in town breaks.

Council approves grant application to CBT

Village council has approved a grant application to Recreation Infrastructure Grants program, created by Columbia Basin Trust.If approved, the grant money would go toward funding to help fix the roof at the Nakusp Arena. Over the last several years,the roof has experienced extensive problems with leaking of the main lobby and the arena itself. There have been multipleattempts to fix the issue, but to date, none have been successful. It is estimated that the budget to fix the roof is around$525,000. If the village gets approval for the grant program, CBT would fund up to 70 per cent of this. This would be CBTwould pay $367,500 and the village would pay $157,500.

Nakusp Rail Committee update

Since its creation in January, the Nakusp Rail Committee has been very active. Its intended role is to lead a community effort tobring the donated caboose and plow to Nakusp. To date, the committee has held three meetings, and are trying to meet on aweekly basis. A chair and vice chair have been appointed, and grant applications are being written, and will be submitted soon.For the purpose of grant applications and charitable receipts, the Arrow Lakes Historical Society has agreed to act as the fiscalagent for the committee.

Preliminary Capital Budget discussion

The preliminary capital budget has been provided to the village for discussion and direction.

Each department has made their capital funding requests. These include requests regarding equipment, public works, and thefire department. For equipment, a sewer flusher needs to be purchased, and two mowers, one walking mower for Parks, and ariding mower for the Hot Springs need to be replaced. Public works needs to replace six blocks of brick sidewalk on Broadway.The proposal is to replace the sidewalk, one block on each side per year for six years. The fire department has identified aneed for a new tender apparatus for areas not serviced by fire hydrants, and there is a need to replace one of the fire truckswithin the next five years. There will be an open house for the budget on Feb. 24 at the Emergency Services Building.

Due to staff shortage, the meetings for Feb. 22 and March 28 have been cancelled.

The next village council meeting will take place on March 14 at 6:30 p.m.