Highlights from the recent Thompson-Nicola Regional District Board of Directors’ meeting held September 8, include the following;
• Representatives from the 73rd Provincial Winter Fair Committee appeared before the Board of Directors to seek Diamond Sponsorship for this year’s fair. The Electoral Areas will contribute a combined total of $5,000 to assist the organization to operate the annual agricultural fair and top hand ranch competition which will be held in Barriere for the first time this year.
• The Board passed a motion to proceed with the update of the TNRD Regional Growth Strategy through the minor amendment statutory process. The work will be done in-house with the support of a consultant and the budget for this project is $150,000.
The Board passed a motion that a Land Use Contract Amendment Bylaw for Whitecroft be introduced and read a first time, and that the proposed amendment application be taken to a public hearing. The purpose of the application is to amend the present Land Use Contract to allow a two-family residential dwelling to be subdivided into two strata lots.
The TNRD announced on Sept. 9, the hiring of Tanya Garost as the new Director of Finance. Garost comes from the City of Kamloops where she was the Revenue and Taxation Manager. She will replace Sukh Gill, who took the Chief Administrator Officer’s position when outgoing CAO Greg Toma retired in August. Garost will start in her new role on Oct. 11.
“We’re looking forward to having Tanya on our team,” said Sukh Gill, TNRD Chief Administrative Officer. “She brings a wealth of experience from her time with the City of Kamloops, and will offer a new vision and fresh approach to the job.”
Garost was the City of Kamloops’ Revenue and Taxation Manager from 2009 until September of this year. Previously she was the Accounting Manager with the City of Kamloops from 2002-09. Garost is a Chartered Accountant who also holds a Diploma of Technology, Financial Management from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. She currently volunteers for the Government Finance Officers Association of BC teaching courses.
The TNRD Board has full confidence that Mrs. Garost will continue to ensure the financial stability and viability of the Regional District in both capital and operating requirements.