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This is the first Mayor’s Report of Spring if all goes according to
schedule this will be my last report until the darkness of next
February. I expect by then there will be many real positive steps
forward for the future of Revelstoke. There is a lot of good news and
lots of positive happenings in and around Revelstoke that we can be
grateful for.
The good news includes:
Aquatic
Centre: continues to rise at an
impressive pace and all the while remaining on budget. So far we
seem to have been able to attract qualified and competitive bidders
for the components let so far. With all continuing to go well there
is no reason why the Centre should not be open and splashing by
early fall.
Community
Energy Project: with the funding
in place and a number of consumers on board, this project appears to
be full steam ahead. I hope that some readers had an opportunity to
visit the public open house and see some of the details of this
economically and environmentally exciting project.
Mount
Mackenzie: the project continues
to move ahead. The City’s consultants have begun their review of the
Master Plan to give the City input to ensure among other things that
the long term needs and interests of the community are met. As I
encouraged in my last report, if you see an opportunity for input,
whether it be at an open house or advisory commission or just a
letter to City Hall, don’t pass the opportunity up.
Rocky
Mountaineer “Ski Train”: Although
just at the very preliminary exploratory stages there is a
possibility of having a tour train running from Calgary to
Revelstoke and resorts in between. These projects have to start with
little steps. The welcome encouragement shown at the Chamber of
Commerce meeting on March 17, 2004, I think, put a good foot forward
for Revelstoke.
There are also a number
of challenges that call on our imagination, creativity and common sense
to find a solution. These include the Mackenzie Avenue Railway Crossing
issue, the Aquatic Centre and the direction to be taken with regard to
health service delivery in Revelstoke. I think Council is committed to
receive and listen to as broad a public input as possible on all these
issues. I am sure the process seems frustrating to some citizens and
sometimes it does to me too, but working through it together, the best
solution will be found.
On the health services
issue, the Mayor’s Advisory committee on Health will be organizing a
public meeting to elicit the health care concerns of Revelstokians and
suggest solutions to address those concerns. Notice of the meeting will
be in the paper so keep an eye open and plan to attend with your
concerns and ideas.
On a more individual note
at Council Monday March 22, 2004 Grants in Aid were approved for:
Dramatic Order of the
Knights of Khorassan - $2,000
Bear Awareness Program - $2,000
Community Futures – Community Forest Conference - $1,000
Mountain Beats & Blues Festival - $2,000
Revelstoke Highway Rescue Society - $1,000
Revelstoke Acrobats - $800
Revelstoke Community Child Care Society - $2,000
Mountain Arts Festival - $1,000
As well, early budget
approval was given for the following Parks & Rec. items so that the work
could be carried out in a cost effective and timely manner:
Parks playground
upgrades - $10,000
DOKK washroom upgrades - $5,000
Williamsons Lake power - $5,000
Williamsons Lake picnic tables - $1,000
Parks top dressing - $15,000
Parks shale - $10,000
Parks Hedge Edger and Pole Pruner - $3,000
Revitalization Hanging Baskets - $5,000
Revitalization Self Watering Hanging Planters - $2,000
Finally, the budget and
five (5) year plan will be soon published for public viewing and
comment. If you take a minute to look at it, you will see that our
Director of Finance has put it into a form that most non-numbers people
(like me) can understand.
I will write again in
February 2005.
Prepared by Councillor
Chris Johnston
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