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Council received a delegation at the January 24/05 meeting representing
the Revelstoke Credit Union. Dave Raven, Chairman of the Board of
Directors and Jay Strong, Manager were on hand to present Mayor McKee
with a donation to the Aquatic Centre. This donation in the amount of
$50,000 had been committed more than twelve months ago and Council
thanks the Credit Union for this generous donation.
The Public Works
committee reported to Council on the 2004 snow removal and sanding
costs. For 2004, $550,000 was budgeted and expenditures totaled
$651,770, the deficit will be covered by utilizing savings from other
programs or from prior year’s surplus. Council is proposing the same
budget for 2005. Snow removal and sanding costs for the months of
November and December were $148,000, while costs for this year to
January 23rd have been $117,000.
Council also received
year-end reports from the BC Ambulance Service, Fire Department and
Highway Rescue Society. The ambulance station is staffed by one full
time employee and supported by eight part time, and is operated 24
hours/day, seven days a week, with two ambulances available. Response
calls were up marginally from last year and have increased each year
since 1997. Fire Department statistics for the year show 45 responses
with an estimated fire loss of $249,000. Other calls (150) were
classified as limited or first responder. The Highway Rescue Society
reported 86 rescue calls, an increase of 64% from 2003, with the
majority of accident calls being east on the Trans Canada Highway.
Twenty members contributed over 936 hours for training and responding to
calls. The Society is fortunate to have received $24,650 in donations
and grants to enable them to carry out this valuable service.
The Protection Committee
reported on four policing priorities for 2005, youth, drugs, road safety
and property protection. Plans are also in place to establish an “At
Risk” Youth Committee and a Community Police Committee, also the
detachment has undertaken a crime assessment audit.
The Finance Committee
reported on the Grant-in-aid policy and the possibility of having
biannual dates for accepting applications. The committee did not find
this proposal to be acceptable and will continue to have February 28th
as the application deadline date.
The Recreation Committee
recommended to Council that family be redefined for purchasing an
Aquatic Centre pass, the new definition is “parents and children under
the age of 18 living in the same house,” previously it had been parents
and up to two children.
Council continues to work
with the Interior Health Authority (IHA) and BC Housing with respect to
construction of a new 11 unit assisted living facility adjacent to the
existing Moberly Manor. Council and the IHA plan to meet in March for an
update on plans to construct two 15 unit residential cottages on the
Queen Victoria Hospital site.
Council and senior staff
met on Saturday January 15/05 to discuss and priorize issues for the
coming year. This was a valuable session that gave staff and Council
direction for the short term. Some of the key areas of concern were Mt.
Mackenzie and the need to ensure community values are addressed, social
issues, planning and the need for development cost charges in the future
and community enhancement. Staff have been assigned projects with
respect to the priorities and will keep Council apprised of their
progress.
A reminder to everyone
that Winterlude events are scheduled for the month of February and the
always-popular outhouse races will take place at Mackenzie Avenue on
February 5th.
Prepared by Councillor Peter Frew
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