Times Staff"I would like to say that my first year in office has been great, reports Willow MacDonald, Thompson-Nicola Regional District director for Thompson Headwaters. "I really enjoy representing Area B and the residents who live there. I am looking forward to my next year in office and I hope that it is productive."
A wide variety of work has been done with the Thompson Headwaters services committee during the past year, she said.
An application has been sent in for a Community Infrastructure Grant to upgrade the children's park at Eleanor Lake in Blue River. That application is for about $200,000 at 50 cent dollars (meaning the TNRD must come up with matching funds).
Water conservation improvements to the Eleanor Lake beachouse bathrooms are being done.
Waterworks upgrades to the Blue River water system will occur in 2013. The paperwork was approved by the B.C. and TNRD governments this fall and the work will start in the spring.
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is putting in a two km passing lane in Blue River going north.
The design work for the Blue River Cemetery archway should be conducted this year.
The services committee is working on getting the Blue River trails project organized, maps corrected and the work started.
A major Avola Schoolhouse repair project is slated to started. The building needs dry rot corrected and chinking upgrades.
Avola park planning is slated, but is dependant on an infrastructure grant outcome
The services committee is working with the Blue River Powder Packers to aid in trail right of way agreements for winter use in the Finn Creek Managed Area. MacDonald gave kudos to the Powder Packers for all the hard work they have done to promote and manage appropriate sled use in Area B.
The committee is also working extensively with MOTI for proper highway signage to be installed for the Little Hell"s Gate turnoff, and interpretive signage at the Little Hell's Gate itself.
Another collaborative project is working with MOE to install interpretive signage for the Goose Creek salmon watershed.
"I am continuing to work with Interior Health and Northern Health to increase access to medical services for residents in Area B on the Health Connections Bus," MacDonald said.
The Thompson Headwaters director is holding discussions with Yellowhead Community Services to maintain Area B ridership on the Valley Connector.
"This new once-a-month service has had a great ridership since its implementation in November 2012," she said. "I am very pleased with the efforts of YCS to reduce winter isolation problems in Area B."
A large amount of work has been done by the Thompson Headwaters services committee to rewrite and update the Blue River website: www.blueriverbc.ca
"My very hard working Thompson Headwaters Services Committee also attends as volunteers to represent Area B interests at trade shows, conferences and tourism organization events to keep Area B on the radar of governments, tourists and businesses," MacDonald said.
"I would also like to thank my committee for working tirelessly on our behalf so that the residents are served democratically. They also perform many many volunteer tasks so that our residents can benefit from the great things to offer in Blue River."
The TNRD director also paid tribute to services coordinator Sherri Madden.
"I appreciate all her help and support in the past year and look forward to working with her in behalf of all who I represent in Area B," she said.
The TNRD director said than anyone wants to contact her, her email is willowmacdonald.tnrd@gmail.com.
