Image Credit: Contributed

MLAs Stone, Milobar Provide Update, Present 50th Anniversary Plaque

The Board received a verbal update from MLAs Todd Stone and Peter Milobar as to recent events in the Legislature in Victoria. They also presented a plaque to Board Chair John Ranta to commemorate the TNRD’s 50th Anniversary. The TNRD was incorporated on November 24, 1967.

2018-22 Provisional Financial Plan Adopted

Through Bylaw 2634, 2017, the TNRD 2018-2022

Provisional Financial Plan was adopted. 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.

Series of Measures to Help Wildfire Recovery

The Board voted to approve multiple measures to help landowners who were adversely affected by the 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.

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 under way. 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.

Kamloops Music Collective Gets Funding

The Board agreed to provide funding in the amount of $1,000 to the Kamloops Music Collective. Executive Director Kim Mangan had appeared at the November 9 meeting with the funding request, which was deferred until a subsequent meeting as is Board practice. The money will go towards the writing of a piece of music inspired by famed train robber Billy Miner.

Board of Directors
Chair: John Ranta
Village of Cache Creek

Directors
Carol Schaffer
Electoral Area "A" (Wells Gray Country)

Willow Macdonald
Electoral Area "B" (Thompson Headwaters)

Sally Watson
Electoral Area "E" (Bonaparte Plateau)

Steven Rice
Electoral Area "I" (Blue Sky Country)

Ronaye Elliott
Electoral Area "J" (Copper Desert Country)

Ken Gillis
Electoral Area "L" (Grasslands)

Randy Murray
Electoral Area "M" (Beautiful Nicola Valley — North)

Herb Graham
Electoral Area "N" (Beautiful Nicola Valley — South)

Bill Kershaw
Electoral Area "O" (Lower North Thompson)

Mel Rothenburger
Electoral Area "P" (Rivers and the Peaks)

Jack Jeyes
Village of Ashcroft

Virginia Smith
District of Barriere

Rick Berrigan
Village of Chase

John Harwood
District of Clearwater

Jim Rivett
Village of Clinton

Ken Christian
City of Kamloops

Ray Dhaliwal
City of Kamloops

Dieter Dudy
City of Kamloops

Tina Lange
City of Kamloops

Pat Wallace
City of Kamloops

Dennis Walsh
City of Kamloops

Robin Smith
District of Logan Lake

Jessoa Lightfoot
Village of Lytton

Neil Menard
City of Merritt

Al Raine
Sun Peaks Mountain Resort

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