The District of Barriere held their regular Council meeting on April 2, passing several recommendations from the Feb. 21 and 29 Public Works Committee meetings.
The recommendations that were passed were: that during the design stage of the Downtown Wastewater Treatment and Disposal System, the costs be explored associated with extending the sewage line across Highway 5 and south to Hall Road; that the Wastewater Plant be potentially located on the same property as the Fire Hall; that an assessment program be established for the property owners’ septic connections and our cross contamination concerns, and that this inspection be performed at the same time as the water meters are being installed; the the District host a design charette led by Eco Tek, subject to funding approval; and that Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to contact the Ministry of Transportation to discuss the apparent lack of traffic speed enforcement and commercial traffic personnel, especially during the 2-4 p.m. time when the schools let out, in regards to the Highway 5 bridge maintenance works conducted on February 29 and March 1, 2012, and request that these concerns be considered in future highway projects.
Council members heard a report from Corporal Underhill, regarding the first quarter of the year.
Council appointed the following three citizens of Barriere to sit on the Board of Variance for a three year term: Karina Scott, Robert Sorensen and Leslie Stirling. Mayor Humphreys thanked them for volunteering for this board.
Council members proposed to pass three resolutions, which will now the advertised for public information before being voted on. One is for a development variance permit application, and two are for temporary use permit applications. Watch for them in the classified section of this paper over the next few weeks.
During the ‘Public Enquiries’ portion of the meeting, Richard Lowe requested Council’s input regarding the burning of tall dead grass at the Sunset Heights Trailer Park, which he felt presented a significant fire hazard. Lowe expressed the hope that the Fire Department could either come burn it as part of a practice, or that they could be on hand to provide support while residents did the burning.
Considerable discussion followed, as the District currently has a policy in place that prohibits the Fire Department from doing any burning on private property. Council assured Mr. Lowe that this would be dealt with as soon as possible, and that they will have staff draft a new policy regarding this kind of issue.
The next general Council meeting will be on April 16 at 7 p.m. There will also be a presentation of the District Budget on April 16, at 1 p.m. and again at 6:30 p.m.