Wildfire BC expansion
Several alternate sites were toured, as proponents and municipal officials explored the options for a larger facility for the town鈥檚 forest fire crews.
鈥淚 think it would be best for them if they went to the airport,鈥� said councillor White. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got space for them there. Ministry of Forests has property out there.鈥�
One of the reasons in aid of that option, he said, was so they did not opt for one of the land options behind Lakeview Mall.
鈥淭o me, that鈥檚 not necessarily a bad spot for them, but I just think there are better purposes for that property. It鈥檚 just a thought,鈥� he added.
Traffic flow improvement coming soon
The traffic at one of the town鈥檚 most prominent intersection may soon be restored to its former flow.
The pattern has been altered, on occasion, at the junction of Highway 16, Centre Street and one arm of the Francois Lake Highway. It鈥檚 also the egress for Home Hardware, A&W, the Balmoral Plaza shopping area, Chevron, and more.
There are a lot of moving parts, and the current pattern was to reduce congestion. It has not been a popular move.
鈥淚t looks like we鈥檙e going to get permission to put that back the way it was,鈥� said mayor Wiebe. Best of all, from fiscal and logistical standpoints, he said there was likely only a need for clear new signage to direct traffic, the infrastructure won鈥檛 probably need to be changed. 鈥淚鈥檓 encouraged about that.鈥�
鈥淚 think everybody agrees it should go back,鈥� said Bjarnason.
Some directions currently disallow turning certain directions, and that would be rectified. Large rigs would be channeled to the other, more commodious arm of Highway 35 instead of accessing the Francois Lake route from that point, a matter of less than 500 metres.
Honour for Rec Department
Sheryl Worthing acknowledged that Lewis Jones鈥檚 municipal team had earned an award for the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake from the 亚洲天堂 Lake & District Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards held on Oct. 24.
鈥淭he Recreation Department won 鈥� Lewis, can you please read it out?鈥�
鈥淭he 2022 Recreation, Leisure & Hospitality Excellence Award,鈥� Jones completed. It was for the operation of the Lakeside Multiplex.
Worthing said 鈥淲e are pretty proud because it鈥檚 the first award we have ever won from the Community Excellence Awards so that鈥檚 a pretty big acknowledgement.鈥�
The trophy will be put on display at the multiplex facility.
Bonspiel plays for free
The 亚洲天堂 Lake Firefighter鈥檚 Association asked council to waive the curling rink rental fees
for their 2022 bonspiel. This annual event is a fundraiser for equipment and resources benefiting the 亚洲天堂 Lake Fire Department.
鈥淰illage staff will prepare the ice during regular working hours; the firefighters will be responsible
for pebbling the ice after hours, to avoid scheduling overtime for recreation staff,鈥� said Director of Recreation Services, Lewis Jones in a report on the matter. 鈥淭he firefighters will also help to clean the building after the weekend.鈥�
Three options were presented to the councillors. One was to waive the rental fee completely, another was to charge only half the regular fee, and the third was to charge them the full rental fee for the municipal recreation facility. The public rate is $86.16 per hour.
Mayor Wiebe asked if the municipality would be 鈥渋ncurring any extra costs鈥� by allowing unfettered access to the curling rink. No, none, was the answer.
鈥淚t is traditional, is it not, that they get the ice for free?,鈥� said councillor White.
That was confirmed to be the practice.
鈥淚t would be from one pocket to the other, for us,鈥� said Wiebe, acknowledging that any money the group paid to the municipality for the ice would come out of profits that they would be giving to the municipality for a fire department donation.
Councillor Rensby said 鈥淚鈥檓 all in favour of helping the fire department in any way, shape or form possible, and I鈥檓 proud to make a motion for Option 1,鈥� waiving all fees for the event, 鈥渁nd that we keep this tradition going.鈥�
The motion carried without opposition. The rocks will slide for free, with all money raised going to 亚洲天堂 Lake鈥檚 frontline emergency responders.
