Minister of Health Talks to Board About Opioid Crisis
The Board heard from Minister of Health Terry Lake, who gave a presentation about the current opioid crisis in B.C. and what the province is doing to raise awareness and help stem the tide of overdoses.
Minister Lake also gave a general update about patient care and doctor recruitment in the Regional District.
Committee Appointments Made
The Board approved the following appointments to committees for 2017:
Film Commission: Willow Macdonald, Robin Smith, Marg Spina
Invasive Plant: Ken Gillis (Ronaye Elliott, alternate)
Municipal Finance Authority: John Ranta (Carol Schaffer, alternate)
Municipal Insurance Authority: Jack Jeyes (Rick Berrigan, alternate)
Shuswap Watershed Council: Ken Christian and Rick Berrigan
Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition: Bill Kershaw (Willow Macdonald, alternate)
The Chair also made appointments to the Fraser Basin Council; Air Quality; Audit; Economic Development/Tourism/ Regional Parks; Emergency Management/ Protective Services; Policy Review; Utility Systems; and Regional Solid Waste. Go to tnrd.ca to see the full list of appointees.
Deadline for Survey Extended
The Board was notified that the deadline had been extended for the Landowner Survey, which seeks input about new regulations the TNRD is considering for small, non-ALR acreages. The TNRD will now be accepting surveys until Feb. 17. Survey forms are available on tnrd.ca.
Zoning Amendment Goes to Public Hearing
Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2597, 2017, was given first and second readings and will be taken to a Public Hearing in the community of Green Lake on Feb. 7, 2017. The public hearing will be held at the Green Lake Snowmobile Club (176 Green Lake South Road) at 6:30 p.m.
The owners/applicants are looking for support for an application to rezone their 7.15-hectare parcel on Eagan Lake from RL-1: Rural to LR-1: Lakeshore Residential Single Family to enable subdivision.
50th Anniversary Plans Unveiled
The Board was presented with a report about plans for the TNRD’s 50th anniversary, which takes place this year. To commemorate the milestone, the TNRD will be hosting local community events, offering contests and sharing news and information about the Regional District. Events will begin in April and culminate on the official date of the TNRD’s incorporation, Nov. 24.
Kamloops Library Modernization Plans
Chief Librarian Judy Moore gave a presentation to the Board about plans to modernize the Kamloops Library. The facility, which was built in 1998 as part of the TNRD Civic Building, has seen only modest improvements and maintenance projects since its construction and needs a refresh to support public use and operations.
Moore shared the conceptual design done by Steven Bushnell of BR2 Architecture in
Edmonton. The project will be completed in the first six months of 2017 at an approximate cost of $350,000. Funding for this is included in TNRD’s 2017 provisional budget. A plan will be developed to minimize the impact the construction will have on staff and patrons.
Regulations Bylaw Amended to Include All Cemeteries
The Board adopted Cemeteries Regulations Amendment Bylaw No. 2598, 2017. It creates a single bylaw that regulates the operation of all TNRD operated cemeteries.
Fire Protection Management Model Adopted
The Board also adopted the Thompson-Nicola Regional District Fire Service Advisory Committees Bylaw No. 2599, 2017.
Staff have met and consulted with Electoral Area Directors, fire protection committees and fire departments to enable a move from a fire protection committee management model to a local government driven management model. This new model is recommended to reduce the legal risk to TNRD volunteer fire protection committees.
Purchase of Fire Truck Approved for Pritchard Fire Department
The Board adopted bylaws to enable the purchase of a fire pumper truck from the Town of Calmar, Alta., for the Pritchard Volunteer Fire Department (PVFD).
With all other costs for transport, inspection and other necessities payable to other third parties, the total all-in cost will be approximately $310,500. The funds will come from capital reserves.
