McBride Council: supporting the valley’s youth and water meter discussion
By Andrea Arnold
Mayor Gene Runtz called the January 13th McBride Council meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.
In the meeting Council was presented information about the Planet Youth Project and councillors discussed the possibility of water meter installation for the residents of McBride.
Planet Youth
Local lead for the Planet Youth project, Shirley Giroux provided Council with an overview of the project. Planet Youth is a Public Health Agency of Canada project being run by Northern Health. The intention of the plan is to increase recreation opportunities for youth and to help reduce and prevent substance use. Giroux also works as a councillor in both the Elementary and Secondary Schools in Valemount where she works closely with the community youth. The program is a 10-step model primary prevention program focusing on preventing substance use and supporting youth wellness for all young people, modeled after a program that was developed in Iceland.
Giroux said that if substance abuse can be delayed up to the age of 15, it is four times less likely to occur overall. The hope of this program is to provide youth with options for safe hang out areas, not necessarily planned programs, but just some where to go. Through conversations with local youth, Giroux has learned that this is something that is desired across the valley. Specifically requested, a pool. She has also heard that they want to feel connected. They are interested in multi generational, community and family events.
Currently, there are a few options for youth, but the lack of spaces means that it often has to be shared between the younger youth and the older, resulting in some people not going because of the age range.
The Robson Valley was selected as one of seven communities that are now running pilot projects. The first phase of the program addresses the first three steps, and through engagement with both the youth and adult community members, Giroux hopes that they will receive the funding to continue on to steps 4-10. She also wants the program to be run by someone with a paid position.
“If you rely on volunteers, it is the same people all the time,” she said. “It needs to be pay protected time. That will prevent burnout and lazy work.
Mayor Runtz recounted that a few summers ago he hired some youth to help at his home. He said they had a great time and he felt so much younger while working with them.
“Older people can feel younger by spending time with you people,” said Mayor Runtz.
Water meters
CAO Jeanette McDougall presented a verbal request asking for up to $2000 to cover the costs of Radloff to proceed with a grant application with the goal of installing water meters on all residences in McBride. The 100 per cent funded grant is being presented as a way to better identify infrastructure repair needs, support better water use, drought resilience, and staff work reduction.
Councillors were quite divided on the matter. Councillor Kolida asked what is stopping the government from using these meters to require each home to pay their consumption amount instead of the flat rate that is currently being charged. He feels that the grant is being offered as a way to get to this charging method.
Mayor Runtz said he doesn’t believe that the intention is to move to individual billing, more the opportunity to identify where the water is going, resulting in quicker action when leaks occur. Councillor Peter Caputo agreed that this could be a time and cost saving method for water conservation.
Councillor Tina Bennett also expressed concern that the big picture would be to move to individual use billing. She suggested a monitoring system on the whole water line, not each house individually.
Councillor Glen Frear said that he isn’t opposed to the meters going in, but it is his understanding that ultimately, the billing process is the village’s decision so they could continue to bill at a flat rate even with the meters installed.
CAO McDougall said that at least one community in B.C., Campbell River, bills out a flat rate up to a certain usage point, then charges by the litre beyond that amount.
Councillor Kolida repeated his concerns, adding that residents in McBride do not like being told that people are coming into their house to do work, in this case the install, and that he feels this matter should be brought forward for community engagement before decisions are made. He also expressed his displeasure that the job of applying for the grant was automatically being given to Radloff. As Kolida has stated in previous meetings, he would like all jobs to be offered out to a minimum of three companies so that the village has a chance to choose the best option.
When a vote was called for the motion to grant the money to Radloff for the grant application the vote was 3-2 with both Councillor Kolida and Councillor Bennett opposed.
Council adjourned at 7:03 p.m.
