District of Barriere CAO Colleen Hannigan presented the following report to council on Monday, May 1, 2017.
Wells Gray Wilderness Society Application for a tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site:
Catherine Hickson and Tom Dickinson made a presentation to the TNRD Board requesting a letter of support for their UNESCO Application on April 20”‘.It was approved subject to the conditions that “all existing uses continue to be allowed if the designation is approved and the designation is confined to the existing boundary for Wells Gray Park ensuring there is no impact to the surrounding lands outside/adjacent the existing boundaries.” It was confirmed in their presentation that the application was funded by the Wells Gray Wilderness Society and the academic grant writing was done by members of that society and supported by Thompson Rivers University and the Provincial government. As the window of opportunity to apply had not been open since 2004 they felt they had to act now. They also stated that the designation as a World Heritage Site would be complementary to any application for a Geopark that included the Park.
Geopark Update:
The The Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) Board also passed a resolution on April 20”‘in support of proceeding with the Geopark in principle and the associated Alternate Approval Process required to get public assent to create the new associated service area for taxation purposes. The Board resolution read as follows:
“THAT staff be authorized to start the process for carrying out public assent for the establishment of a service area comprising Electoral Areas ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘O’, District ofBarriere and District of Clearwater (the participating area) for the purpose of establishing a Geopark along the North Thompson Corridor from the southern boundary of the District of Barriere to the northern boundary of Electoral Area “B AND THAT an Alternative Approval Process be the means of determining public assent for the proposed service establishment;
AND FURTHER THAT the participating area approval be obtained for the entire proposed service area.”
The TNRD has requested a council resolution from both districts in support of this process. The board report is attached for information.
Solar Aquatics Water Reclamation Centre (SAWRC) Update:
Councillor Fennell, with some help from staff, has installed pipe between the beams for around 200 growing hanging baskets. A solarium design has been agreed upon and will be constructed prior to the planned opening to the public for plant sales on May 12 (the Friday of Mother’s Day weekend). Agrientrepreneurs are busy cultivating their plants in preparation. Team members are separating existing, gathering new and rafting pond plants from various sources to continue to fully populate the solar tanks which further assists with the effluent processing.
The testing results are continuously improving. Pricing on repairing or replacing the three dissolved oxygen (DO) sensors is being done as the ones currently in place in the surge blending and solar tanks are not functioning accurately and in the meantime DO monitoring is continuing to be accomplished manually. This willbe automated as soon as possible moving forward.
Jon Van Hamme, a microbiologist from TRU, toured the SAWRC on Apr. 24, along with Mike Marshall who is also in the throes of experimenting with bubble insulation for greenhouses in the Kamloops area.
He has undertaken significant research based on the John Todd design for living systems. Jon has promised to spread the word at TRU in search of other researchers who may be interested in using our facility in their work. We also spoke about a couple of different funding sources for research projects that may be helpful to us.
Also, after Richard St—Aubin,P.Eng. and National Sales Manager, Municipal Systems for IPEX (Vortex Aerators) made a visit to the SAWRC a few weeks ago, he began working on a Barriere Case Study entitled “The District of Barriere BC Goes Green with Solar Aquatics and the Vortex Force” showcasing their product. He was very impressed with the plant and what we were trying to accomplish. The article will be brought back to council’s attention upon completion.
B.C. Mayors’ Call Regarding Recent Announcements around Softwood Lumber:
The Mayor was invited to participate in a call with Premier Christy Clark and Agriculture Minister Steve Thomson on Apr. 25, to discuss the recent decision on softwood countervail duties announced by the U.S. Government and its impact on British Columbia. West Fraser is looking at a 24 per cent tariff while the average is around 20 per cent for other exporters. The Provincial Government is promising to work to fight this action and explore further options to protect workers impacted by these tariffs. Councillor Fennell and I sat in on the call as well.
Public Works Truck:
The district has been approached regarding the availability of a 2009 Ford 350 4X4 half ton crew cab with 154,000 km. The truck is equipped with a steel plate box system and would be advantageous as a general public works service vehicle. Staff are proposing that it would be left parked at the locked Septage Receiving compound beside the garbage trucks and be available for service calls as required, during and after hours to whomever is on call. It has had a service inspection to confirm its condition and subsequently its value. It is being offered to the district for $15,000. Funds would come from water surplus accounts for the purchase upon council approval.