Bylaw to Allow McLure Fire Department to Up its Taxation Limit
The Board adopted McLure Fire Protection Grant-in-Aid Service Amendment Bylaw No. 2604, 2017. This will allow the Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) to amend its bylaw for the financial contribution service to the McLure Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD). The MVFD requested the amendment to allow a 25 per cent increase in the annual maximum taxation limit, as allowed once every five years under regulation.
The amendment raises the maximum annual limit to $45,247, an increase of $6,690 over the current 2017 calculation. This allows the grant to instead remain at the 2016 level with the potential for small increases to come in the next few years in order to keep up with rising costs of providing the service.
Gas Tax Funds for Westwold Hall, Savona Seniors Centre, Barriere Curling Club
The Board approved the expenditure to a maximum of $250,000, allocated to Electoral Area “L” (Grasslands), in Federal Gas Tax - Community Works Fund revenues, to fund roof and insulation upgrades at the Westwold Community Hall.
Other Federal Gas Tax - Community Works Fund revenues that were approved:
• The expenditure to a maximum of $15,000, allocated to Electoral Area “J” (Copper Desert Country), to fund furnace and lighting upgrades at the Savona Seniors Centre.
• The expenditure to a maximum of $10,000, allocated to Electoral Area “O” (Lower North Thompson), to fund heating system upgrades at the Barriere Curling Club.
Western Canada Theatre Gets $3,500
Lori Marchand provided a presentation on behalf of Western Canada Theatre requesting that the TNRD provide funds to support the theatre company’s 2017-18 season. The Board resolved to provide the funding in the amount of $3,500.
Loon Lake Water Reserve Fund Tapped
The Board adopted the Loon Lake Community Water Service Reserve Fund Expenditure Bylaw No. 2603, 2017. The bylaw will address an outstanding balance of temporary debt associated with past capital improvements made to the Loon Lake Community Water System. The debt, which is currently $18,177.08, is not part of an ongoing project, and should be repaid. The Bylaw authorizes use of a portion of the $31,057 currently held in the Reserve Fund for this purpose.
The plan was discussed during a recent public meeting held in Loon Lake and attendees favored it over the alternative, which is to tax additional dollars in future to fund the debt repayment.
Alternative-Waste Collection Reserve Funds Approved
Electoral Area “N” (Beautiful Nicola Valley-South) Alternative Waste Collection Service Reserve Fund Establishment Bylaw No. 2605, 2017, and Electoral Area “P” (Rivers and the Peaks) Alternative Waste Collection Service Reserve Fund Establishment Bylaw No. 2606, 2017, were adopted by the Board.
These bylaws formally establish reserve funds for the existing Alternative Waste Collection Services in Electoral Areas “N” and “P” to allow for proper financial planning in the future.
Both of these services were established to preserve and maintain the operations of solid waste transfer stations in the respective areas that would have otherwise have closed under the Solid Waste Management Plan.
