Five Spallumcheen organizations will get a 2013 financial boost from the township after grants-in-aid were approved.
Four of the requests were unanimously approved by council but one drew opposition from Couns. Todd York and Joe Van Tienhoven, and that was recommendation of a $2,000 grant-in-aid to the Armstrong Spallumcheen Museum and Archive Society.
The pair opposed the move because they wanted to see council grant the society’s original request for $2,500, a motion that was defeated by Mayor Janice Brown and Councillors Andrew Casson, Rachael Ganson and Ed Hanoski.
“We opposed it because of the $500 drop,” explained Van Tienhoven.
The O’Keefe Ranch will receive a grant for $5,000, the largest item handed out.
Caravan Farm Theatre will receive $3,500; the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club receives $1,500 and the Armstrong Spallumcheen Fire Department will get a $750 grant-in-aid.
Expenses covered
Spallumcheen now has a policy in place related to council members attending conferences, seminars and meetings and the payments of expenses related to such.
Prior to Monday, the township’s written policy included direction for payment of expenses for members of staff and other authorized personals in regards to attending conferences and seminars.
“This policy does not include similar authority for council members attending such events in their role as elected officials,” said Cindy Graves, the township’s deputy corporate officer.
Council agreed that the township’s annual budget for council conference, seminars, meetings, workshops or courses be a minimum of $30,000, and confirms that all members of council may attend the UBCM and SILGA (Southern Interior Local Government Association) without further specific approval by council.
Flood policy supported
The township will support, as a participating member, the North Okanagan Emergency Management’s proposed flood policy.
The draft was written up following the events of the 2012 flood season.
“NOEM staff advised that the significant flood events of 2012 had identified a number of concerns over public expectations, provincial support and a lack of share directions and responses among participating members,” wrote Spallumcheen chief administrative officer Greg Betts.
The intent of the proposed policy is to provide constant messaging throughout the region and among the participants with respect to managing flood responses, coordination and administration.
It will also identify some of the legal administrative capacity and resource issues and limitations related to managing and responding to flooding throughout the region.
Council unanimously threw its support behind the policy.
Council backs application
Steele Springs Waterworks District in Spallumcheen received council’s unanimous support for its application for a $5,000 grant from the Okanagan Basin Water Board.
Steele Springs wants to continually monitor water use of the springs so that over consumption or major leaks can be detected and dealt with quickly.
The money would be used for the installation of a water meter to help with the monitoring.
If approved, the district would start the project on June 1, and it would be completed by Aug. 31.
