(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
November 14, 2016 - 11:53 AM
2016 Chair and Vice Chair Elected
John Ranta of Cache Creek was re-elected to the position of Board Chair and Electoral Area Director “I” (Blue Sky Country) Steven Rice was elected to the position of Vice Chair for 2016. Rice takes over for Electoral Area “J” (Copper Desert Country) Director Ronaye Elliott. This is Chair Ranta’s third consecutive one-year term in the TNRD chair’s position.
Assistant Deputy Minister Talks Biosolids
Mark Zacharias, B.C. Ministry of Environment Assistant Deputy Minister, and Chris Jenkins, Director of Clean Technologies for the MOE, presented to the Board and answered questions about biosolids management and planned revisions to the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation (OMRR).
The OMRR governs the construction and operation of composting facilities and the production, distribution, sale, storage, use, and land application of biosolids and compost. It was developed to facilitate the recycling of organic material while protecting human health and the environment.
The Board requested that staff prepare a response for consideration through the online submission process requesting that local government be given the opportunity for consultation, input and approval within the process.
Zoning Bylaw to Be Amended to Permit Hobby Farms
Staff has been directed to amend Zoning Bylaw 2400 in accordance with the five recommendations related to hobby farming found in the Director of Development Services’ Zoning Bylaw Amendments – Agriculture Livestock ALR Concordance Report. Current bylaws currently set few to no limits on farming on small parcels.
Economic Development Website Will Be Shut Down
The Board accepted the recommendation of the Committee of the Whole to discontinue use of the www.investvestthompsonnicolabc.ca website, but still retain the website domain until the end of 2017. Economic development within the Thompson-Nicola Regional District will now be promoted through the use of the www.britishcolumbia.ca website.
Gas Tax Funds Allocated
An additional $60,000 in Gas Tax Fund revenues was allocated to Electoral Area “P” (Rivers and the Peaks) to assist in the funding of drilling and analysis costs to develop a groundwater source for the Black Pines Community Water System.
After failing to find a new intake location for the water system on the North Thompson River, and after community consultation, it was decided to develop a groundwater source for the water system.
The Board approved the expenditure to a maximum of $5,000 in Federal Gas Tax-Community Works Fund revenues, allocated to Electoral Area “O” (Lower North Thompson), to fund the potable water supply piping retrofit at the Little Fort Community Hall.
News from © iNFOnews, 2016