Wells Gray Country (Area A) director Tim Pennell has announced that he intends to seek another term.
“Yes, I will be running for office again,” Pennell told the Times last week. “I really enjoy the work in the community and wish to continue in this capacity.”
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District director said that some projects that he has taken a lead role in are still not completed and he would like to see them through. These include contiguous fire protection for the North Thompson Valley, Vavenby cell service, Blackpool Hall renovations, appliance upgrades for Upper Clearwater Hall, planned renovations for Vavenby Community Hall, Clearwater eco-depot and development of a park adjacent to the Blackpool Hall.
“Additionally, my involvement with the Southern Interior Local Government Association has been very useful in bringing some benefit to the area, such as changing campfire restrictions to local zones rather than region wide,” Pennell said.
He noted that he is also a member of the Union of BC Municipalities off road vehicle working group, which is dealing with implementing upcoming legislative changes.
Pennell is involved with the Fraser Basin Council, which he says has proven to be interesting. There he has been involved with streamlining the organization and moving forward with projects during a time of financial restraint.
“Working closely with the District of Clearwater via the Joint Services Advisory Committee has proven to be very valuable to obtaining grants and benefits for the entire area,” said the Wells Gray Country director. “I brought forward the idea of having a joint committee not long after I was elected and worked with staff to write the actual bylaw.”
According to Pennell, the joint committee was in a large part responsible for bringing $2.4 million in grants to the area for fuel management mitigation.
He credited Leslie Groulx, now the District of Clearwater’s interim chief administrative officer, as being instrumental in taking the joint committee’s political direction and input, and turning it into dollars that provided much needed fuel management and employment to the area during the Canfor shutdown.
“There is just way too much going on to even consider not running as the area director and I look forward to working towards completion on all these projects,” said Pennell.
“Being self-employed has allowed me a flexible work schedule and to meet my obligations,” he added.
