Following are the board highlights from the Feb. 11 Cariboo Regional District (CRD) meeting:
Community Works funding
The CRD will support an application from the 108 Mile Ranch Community Association for up to $22,000 of Community Works funding from the Gas Tax Fund, a federal-provincial-municipal agreement.
The funds will be used to replace four, old inefficient furnaces at the 108 Community Hall with new, energy-efficient models.
The actual costs of the units and installation are still being determined, but CRD chair Al Richmond says this funding amount was “in the ballpark” and the application needed to get in before the deadline.
One furnace was replaced in the last funding program, he says, adding these replacements will save money on heating costs as well as improve the energy efficiency of the building and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Wood-fired boilers
The CRD has decided to discontinue its move toward regulating wood-fired boilers and wait for the province to take the lead.
Although a related bylaw underwent two readings at earlier meetings, the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development recently advised CRD staff that in order to establish a regulatory service for this, public assent will be required.
In making their decision, directors looked at the potential costs and other impacts of conducting either a referendum or an Alternate Approval Process (AAP).
With numerous other bylaws requiring enforcement and limited resources to cover the vast regional district area, the directors also took into consideration a current lack of resources to undertake a new regulatory function.
It was noted that the province released a Solid Fuel Burning Domestic Appliance Regulation Intentions Paper last year, which indicates regulation of solid fuel burning appliances will happen at some point in the near future.
