FILE PHOTO - The clock at the village at Big White Ski Resort is seen in this Jan. 1, 2021, file photo.

(KATHY MICHAELS / iNFOnews.ca)

Proposed changes to the Big White transfer station struck a nerve for the mountain community’s businesses and residents.

These changes are part of a larger issue regarding the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary’s ability to provide services to Big White, according to a joint press release from Big White Mountain Chamber of Commerce and Community Development Association. 

“The proposed changes to the transfer station have hit a nerve for two reasons,” Big White Mountain Chamber of Commerce president Richard Berrie said in the release.

The chamber said there has been a history of dissatisfaction in the community with the services provided by the Kootenay Boundary regional district.

“The first concern is that there appears to be a fundamental lack of understanding by the (Kootenay Boundary regional district) about our community and local economy. This is coupled with a recent engagement process that has left many community and business members feeling unheard,” Berrie said.

The changes to the transfer station will have a large negative impact on the businesses on the mountain, he said.

“The second concern relates to the (Kootney Boundary regional district's) ability to effectively provide services to Big White Mountain in a cost effective way; waste management being at the top of that list," he said. "We have over 100 businesses on the mountain, the majority of which relate to tourism.

"Imagine you are a local cleaning or property management company; you need daily access to the transfer station as people check in and out of accommodations. One of the options the RDKB proposed was for the transfer station to only be open 3 days a week. That would be crippling for many businesses.”

The regional district is holding a Big White Mountain Community Town Hall at 6 p.m. on March 6 at the Happy Valley Day Lodge to give residents and businesses a chance to voice their concerns.

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Mark Hillhouse, president of the Big White Community Development Association, said the services provided by the regional district don’t match the amount of tax dollars it gets from Big White.

“When it comes to our transfer station specifically, the mechanical doors have repeatedly been inoperable for extended periods of time due to mechanical issues with long delays in repairs. This has been extremely frustrating,” Hillhouse said.

“The recent solution provided by the (regional district) has focused on making the facility a manned station with different tax increase options proposed based on hours of service.

"Big White represents a significant tax base for the (regional district), yet the services we are provided for those funds seems wildly disproportionate. To even suggest a tax increase for appropriate waste management services when we are already under serviced is ridiculous. What we want are straight forward answers and meaningful dialogue.”

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