By Andru McCracken
The Village of Valemount held their regular meeting by Zoom on June 9. Mayor Owen Torgerson, Councillors Hollie Blanchette, Pete Pearson, Donalda MacLean, Sheri Gee as well as Chief Administrative Officer Wayne Robinson were present.
Council supported the Valemount Curling Club’s request to support their grants for an ice plant replacement project. The club is applying for $30,000 from the Northern Development initiative Trust and $50,000 from the Columbia Basin Trust.
“[We] would like to be able to offer curling for generations to come,” said Diana Smith.
Contractors left out
Council agreed to facilitate a meeting between Trans Mountain representatives and local contractors. In a letter to council local contractors said they have no they have said no contractors have been hired for the project.
“We will attempt to have a preemptive meeting on Friday with their procurement team,” said Torgerson.
“I’ll report out on Friday to the contractors.”
“There are more than that group of contractors that are upset and I’d like to see this addressed,” said MacLean
“I will endeavour to have that wish pushed upon Trans Mountain,” said Torgerson.
Council received the Accounts Payable Report for May 2020 and the Building Inspection Report.
Garden 4 all
Council authorized staff to sign a License to Occupy agreement for the community garden space to Robson Valley Community Services. Blanchette and Gee left the room for the discussion and vote.
Land Surveying
Council granted staff the authority to tender out a land surveying contract to WSP not to exceed $20,000.
Council also granted staff the authority to tender it out to Highmark Survey and Engineering if negotiations with WSP fail.
Tourism money
The Provincial Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture Lisa Bear announced a one time grant in the amount of $27,800 to help cover immediate operational and critical staffing costs from May to October for Valemount’s tourism marketing operations.
Women and children in need
Council gave two readings to a zoning bylaw that would allow BC Housing to build and own long term affordable housing for women and children in need at 1451 5th Avenue next to the Valemount Health Clinic.
The building would be operated by Robson Valley Community Services.
“With the addition of long term affordable housing, RVCS will be able to extend their current service offerings to include housing for women and children in need through purpose built and affordable housing. It will connect women with resources to help them move towards safe, independent living.
RVCS anticipates that its staffing will increase by approximately eight (8) full-time employees with the completion of this project,” read a staff report.
The ground floor will be for office use to offer diverse community support programming, with the potential for additional housing units, depending on the final design and layout.
Water supply
Council adopted three bylaws connected to the Village of Valemount Water Supply and Regulations. A bylaw that lays out new staged water restrictions, a bylaw that lays out penalties and another that sets out enforcement and dispute adjudication.
Condolences
In her council report Hollie Blanchette gave her condolences to MLA Shirley Bond, whose husband Bill Bond has recently passed.
