Access sites signage receives approval
Powell River Regional District directors have approved spending $5,200 for signs to be installed at 17 waterfront access sites that will be opened this year. Directors Dave Murphy, Texada Island, and Stan Gisborne, Electoral Area B, voted in opposition to the motion because they thought the price was “ridiculous.”
Murphy said he would agree to $1,200 and $4,000 should be sent to the food bank. “I don’t think this is a very good bang for the buck,” he said. “You could get a cedar shake and nail it to a tree, saying ‘trail here.’”
Electoral Area A Director Patrick Brabazon, chair of the parks and greenspace implementation advisory committee, which recommended the signage to the board, said he could just imagine what a cedar shake nailed to a tree would say about the regional district. “I have no other comment,” he said.
Expense review
Board members voted to refer a recommendation from staff, which stated that directors who attended a meeting with Sunshine Coast Regional District officials recently receive only a 50 per cent per diem, back to the committee of the whole to review the expense policy. Staff suggested that since directors incurred no expenses on the trip, 50 per cent was adequate, but some directors disagreed.
Savary fire hall
Directors endorsed further short-term borrowing of $19,626 to finance the upgrade of Savary Island fire hall. The project is estimated to cost $290,160. The regional district already had arranged borrowing $98,374 for the project and the new amount brings the total for short-term borrowing to $118,000 over five years. As well, $125,550 is coming from the community works reserve for eligible costs and $46,610 from the Savary Island Volunteer Fire Department reserves.
Rural doctors
Directors agreed to submit a resolution for consideration at the 2013 Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) annual conference regarding the rural doctor shortage. The resolution calls on UBCM to lobby the provincial government to ensure appropriate funding is in place to attract and retain doctors located within rural areas to ensure that the province’s “Healthy Families BC initiative results in positive outcomes for all local governments.”
Lasqueti fire chief
Directors appointed Richard Carlson as chief of Lasqueti Island Volunteer Fire Department. The regional district will send a letter of appreciation to former chief Ross Thompson for his contribution to the community.
