By Goat Staff
Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on April 27.
Audit
The meeting began with a lengthy presentation of the Audited Financial Statements from 2020 by KPMG.
Remembrance
Council directed staff to work with members of the Royal Canadian Legion to place banners of remembrance on lamp posts on 5th Avenue. Royal Canadian Legion Branch 266 vice-president Peter Addis asked that banners featuring local veterans be hung between mid-October and mid-November. Council moved to support the idea.
Accounts payable
Council received the March 2021 accounts payable report for information.
Airport lighting repairs
Council approved $66,500 towards the airport lighting repairs using $37,000 from the COVID-19 Airport Relief and $29,500 from the COVID 19 Safe Restart Grant and approved sole sourcing the job to Signal Electric Ltd.
“It’s something we don’t take lightly when it comes to sole sourcing,” said Mayor Owen Torgerson.
Pearson said he hopes efforts will be taken to minimize the cost.
CAO Wayne Robinson said that the reason the request is on the books now is because the company is passing through the area, and is one of the few companies that can complete the work.
“We won’t have to worry about extra mobilizing costs that wouldn’t be necessary otherwise,” said Robinson.
Municipal sewer line clearing
Council asked staff to negotiate a contract for 3 years of municipal sewer line cleaning, with an option to renew for a further two years with Northern Lites Technology (2021) Ltd.
Washrooms
Council asked staff to apply for $30,000 through the Northern Development Initiative Trust Community Places Program for their public washroom project.
Development Approvals Program
Council directed staff to apply to a program to review how the municipality approves development.
“The intent of the Local Government Development Approvals Program is to support the implementation of established best practices and to test innovative approaches to improve development approvals processes while meeting local government planning and policy objectives,” according to a report by Planning Clerk Krista Etty.
Full Time Bylaw
Council unanimously supported a full-time bylaw position to be funded through COVID Restart Funds for the remainder of 2021.
Land Disposition 1451
Council authorized the CAO to sign a lease agreement between BC Housing and the Village of Valemount, for the Village-owned land at 1451 5th Avenue, for the below market value of $10, for a term of 60 years.
Five Year Plan
Council gave 3rd reading to their Five Year Financial Plan.
The Plan
Council gave second reading to the Official Community Plan.
“It’s looking good,” said councillor Hollie Blanchette.
Tax Rate Bylaw
Council gave first, second and third reading to this year’s Tax Rate Bylaw that sets the relative rates for Residential, Business, and Industrial properties.
Council reports
Council gave their verbal reports.
Public Comments
There were no public comments received.
