Valemount Council: 2025 budget, ReDi grant decision

By Abigail Popple, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, RMG

Valemount Council heard a presentation about the 2025 budget and approved a grant application from the Valemount Senior Citizens Housing Society at a special meeting on Wednesday, March 19th.

Mayor Owen Torgerson called the special meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.

Budget presentation

Director of Finance Lori McNee gave a presentation on the proposed 2025 budget, which includes a 5.5 per cent tax increase, in line with the Village’s Asset Management Plan. Additionally, improvements to the cemetery, sportsplex, and travel costs that the mayor and CAO incurred during economic recovery efforts will be included as budget items

McNee said Council would be able to consider giving first and second reading to the budget at its March 25th regular meeting.

For more information on the proposed 2025 budget, see our story here.

ReDi grant for Seniors Housing

Council approved granting $19,540 to the Valemount Senior Citizens’ Housing Society with funding from the Columbia Basin Trust’s Resident-Directed Grant program.

The annual program allows Valemount residents to vote on which local groups should be awarded funding for their projects. This year, Senior Citizens’ Housing Society applied for $19,500 to cover the remaining costs associated with the Ash Street Housing project. The funds will be used to purchase furniture and maintenance equipment such as lawnmowers, said Society employee Rob Hennigar during his public presentation on the project.

While Council typically makes ReDi grant decisions during one meeting, staff recommended making a decision about the Senior Citizens’ Housing Society application during a separate meeting due to concerns about meeting quorum. Two councillors – Hugo Mulyk and Donnie MacLean – are members of the Society, creating a conflict of interest which prevents them from voting on the issue. Additionally, Mayor Torgerson informed staff he would not be present at the March 25th meeting when Council makes its ReDi grant decisions. The Village Bylaw requires a majority of Council – three out of five members – be present to meet quorum, which would not be possible with two councillors recusing themselves and one councillor absent. As such, staff recommended making the decision during the March 19th special meeting, while Council will consider the remaining ReDi proposals during the March 25th regular meeting.

Adjournment

With no discussion of new items and no public comments, Torgerson moved to adjourn the special meeting at 2:07 p.m.