The Times
During a Thompson-Nicola Regional District board of directors meeting held Nov. 24, the board received a verbal update from MLAs Todd Stone and Peter Milobar as to recent events in the Legislature in Victoria.
The MLAs also presented a plaque to board chair John Ranta to commemorate the TNRD’s 50th anniversary.
The TNRD was incorporated on Nov. 24, 1967.
Provisional budget nearly $24 million
The board adopted a provisional financial plan for 2018-2022.
The 2018 provisional budget estimates a tax requisition of $23,723,705.
The provisional budget lays out the TNRD’s plans for 2018, but taxes are still based on 2017 property values as 2018 values will not be available until the new year.
As such, the provisional budget taxes are still subject to change in the final budget to be reviewed in March 2018.
The 2018 Provisional Budget also includes setting aside $2,167,000 into operating reserves for anticipated future needs.
Measures to help wildfire recovery
The board voted to approve multiple measures to help landowners who were adversely affected by last summer’s wildfires with the recovery process. These measures include:
1. Preparing an amendment to Development Procedures Bylaw 2385 to reduce planning fees.
2. Accelerating application (including building permit) processing.
3. Commissioning riparian area regulation – assessments for South Loon and Pressy lakes.
4. Preparing an amendment to Zoning Bylaw No. 2400 to create a zone allowing “dry cabins” for off-grid, limited access, seasonal use areas.
5. Lobbying the province for Homeowner
Protection Act relief for seasonal cabin rebuilds and BC Building Code changes to support seasonal cabins (similar to Ontario).
6. Disposal fees for demolition, fridges, freezers and food waste be waived and that the TNRD apply to third-party nongovernmental organizations such as Red Cross for recovery of the waived disposal fees
7. Recovery managers be hired.
READ MORE: TNRD manager to assess wildfire impact on businesses
Library rebranding gets go-ahead
The TNRD Library System received board approval to change its name to the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library.
As well as a name change, there will be a corresponding change to the Library System’s website URL, which will now be tnrl.ca.
Changes to the Library System’s name and website URL were considered timely, as major library initiatives that impact visual identity and marketing, including the replacement of its Bookmobile, the modernization of the
Kamloops Library, and changes to the Library System website, are currently underway.
The proposed name change is expected to enhance name recognition and ease of patron use.
McLure fire hall gets gas tax help
The board approved the expenditure to a maximum of $82,000 in Federal Gas Tax – Community Works Fund revenues, allocated to Electoral Area P (Rivers and the Peaks), to fund energy efficiency upgrades at the McLure Fire Hall.