Powell River Community Forest Ltd. (PRCF) representatives presented a 2011 dividend cheque of $659,554 to the City of Powell River at a recent council meeting.
“It was obviously a very successful year,” said Greg Hemphill, PRCF board president. “The amount is a little larger than usual and that’s more a function of the timing of our revenues. I guess what I’m saying is don’t expect that amount next year.”
While the cash is good, Hemphill said, the group is prouder of the $1.3 million it has contributed to the economy through contracts to, and supply purchases from, local companies. “We’re also very proud of the fact that this year we had a clean audit from the Forest Practices Board,” he said.
The dividend cheque is deposited into the community forest reserve fund, which was established by bylaw. Money from the fund is to be used for special community projects that will benefit the community as a whole. The fund is not to be used for city operations or capital expenditures of a regular nature.
The PRCF board makes recommendations to council about where the money should go. The board’s recommendations for this dividend were:
• Powell River Kings/City of Powell River: $290,000 for phase two of the Powell River Recreation Complex arena upgrade, the mezzanine area; project includes in-kind labour from School District 47 and Vancouver Island University’s dual-credit carpentry trades program.
• City of Powell River: $200,000 for the extension of the seawalk connecting the south harbour extension with the Wharf at Westview.
• Powell River Academy of Music, $100,000 for exterior cladding, new doors and windows.
• Townsite Heritage Society, $40,000 for the final component in renovating Henderson House.
Representatives from the receiving organizations expressed their appreciation for the contributions.
Mayor Dave Formosa said that while he had to drop all of his board memberships after he became mayor, he kept his appointment to the community forest, where he sits as an ex officio, non-voting member of the board. “I enjoy it, I like to stay close to it and I enjoy watching this team at work,” he said. “They’re a team of professionals, they know the business, they understand the business, we’ve hired a good, local professional management team. The work that this group does for us is second to none.”
Council passed a resolution to concur with the board’s recommendations.
The seawalk funding will provide for infrastructure along the path that will feature local wood.
