By Phil McLachlan
The District of Sparwood hosted a regular council meeting on January 16, 2017. Several matters were addressed.
Council authorized a lease agreement between the Province of British Columbia and the District for use of a portion of the property located at 136 Spruce Ave. (Council Chambers in the Municipal Office) for conducting court services. The lease will be for the term of January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018 at an annual sum of $18,047.28 in the first year increasing by 2% annually for the term of the agreement totaling $55,252.35.
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 1175, 2015, Amendment Bylaw 1200, 2017 was given the first of three readings. This amendment is required in order that changes (Amendment Bylaw 1198) to the Utility and Solid Waste Management Bylaw 1014 may be enforced. The changes under Bylaw 1198 include placing residential waste out prior to 5 a.m. on scheduled collection days. Failing to place waste in secured containers includes several parameters: commercial waste containers must be three metres away from a building or gas meter; and commercial waste containers cannot obstruct emergency vehicle access. Council will be considering Bylaw 1200 for adoption at the February 6, 2017 regular meeting. If adopted, fines for non-compliance will range between $100 and $250.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2017/18 Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) Community Initiatives and Affected Areas Programs. The programs support local projects that provide additional value to Basin communities and that benefit the broad community and public good. Application forms and proposal guidelines are available online through the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) at Rdek.bc.ca or can be picked up at the District of Sparwood Municipal Office. The application deadline for project proposals is 9:00 am Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at the RDEK office.
The District would like to remind residents that their winter parking regulations came into effect on October 1. Bylaw No. 472, 1987 prohibits on-street parking between the hours of 6 a.m. and 4 p.m., October 1 to March 31.
Residents should note that parking on the street during snow plowing, snow removal, snow hauling, or sanding operations is prohibited. It is an offense to push, place or throw or allow to be pushed, placed or thrown any snow or ice upon a highway or lane.
No advance warning is required under the bylaw and section 189(1)(n) of the Motor Vehicle Act and offending vehicles will be towed.
Please make appropriate arrangements for parking your vehicles. The fine for non-compliance is $100.
