The Township of Spallumcheen wants to see North Enderby Timber expand.
Township council unanimously agreed to send a letter of support for the mill’s application to take nearly five acres of land beside its Highway 97A site out of the Agricultural Land Reserve so it can be used for a log storage yard and dry kiln.
A previously existing kiln on the site was lost in a fire.
NET also wants to convert a former 4.9-hectare log sort yard on Crandlemire Road into agricultural capabilities.
“This impacts some of our residents,” said Spall Coun. Christine Fraser. “One of our farmers said he gets chips from the mill. If he had to pay for the amount of chips he gets, he couldn’t live here.”
Coun. Todd York agreed with Fraser’s assessment of the huge economic impact NET has on the community.
“I’ll enthusiastically support this,” he said. “They’re a long-standing business that employs 103 people.”
Building bustling in township
March was a busy month for issuing building permits in Spallumcheen.
According to the monthly report from the Regional District of North Okanagan, there were eight permits issued in Spallumcheen totalling $1,250,00. That’s up from the $457,610 from eight permits in March 2012.
So far in 2013, there have been 13 permits issued totalling $2,329,000. That’s up from six permits issued through the first three months of 2012 which totalled $895,550.
“That’s more than the electoral areas, Armstrong, Lumby and Enderby combined,” said Coun. Christine Fraser.
The other areas’ permits, so far in 2013, have totalled $1,820,450.
Pool prepared
Residents of Armstrong and Spallumcheen will soon make a splash.
The projected opening date for the outdoor pool at Memorial Park in Armstrong is Saturday, May 18.
“Prep work has begun for the start of the 2013 season,” said Spallumcheen Coun. Joe Van Tienhoven, who sits on the Armstrong Spallumcheen Parks and Recreation board.
The new boiler for the pool has been installed so once the pool is filled with water, it will be ready for the season.
September schedule revised
Due to conflicts with a couple of other large events, council has voted to reduce its regular meeting schedule in September.
Slated to meet on Tuesday, Sept. 3, and Monday, Sept. 16, council voted unanimously with a recommendation from administrator Greg Betts to hold one meeting on Monday, Sept. 9. This avoids a conflict with the Interior Provincial Exhibition, which runs. Aug. 28 to Sept. 1, and with the UBCM convention in Vancouver which begins Sept. 16.
“I would suggest holding one meeting on Sept. 9, that would allow council to meet prior to UBCM and discuss any matters they wish prior to going to Vancouver,” said Betts.
