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qathet Regional District briefs: Texada flights; Postpones old growth letter; Re-greening program

Texada flights At the qathet Regional District board meeting on Thursday, November 28, regional directors voted that the board and staff encourage Island Express Air to provide application for Transport Canada aerodrome authorization in order to supp
Texada Island Airport
Texada Island Airport. Getty image

Texada flights

At the qathet Regional District board meeting on Thursday, November 28, regional directors voted that the board and staff encourage Island Express Air to provide application for Transport Canada aerodrome authorization in order to supply scheduled air service to Texada Island Airport.

Postpones old growth letter

Regional directors voted to postpone sending a letter to the ministry of forests, lands, natural resource operations and rural development regarding an old growth strategic review feedback submission. Electoral Area C director Clay Brander said he thought the board should take more time and see what kind of impact the letter makes on the local economy. He said there was no rush in submitting the letter so he didn’t think the decision needed to be made at the meeting. Board chair Patrick Brabazon said there was no rush because the deadline for submitting the letter was January 31, 2020. He said he shared Brander’s concerns and wanted to do more research on the impact of such a letter. He said there was a lot of time to get a better handle on the impact of such a letter on the community. The draft letter examines how what old growth means to the regional district and how it is valued. It also examines how old growth is managed in the regional district, and how old growth could be more effectively managed.

Re-greening program

The qathet Regional District board endorsed an application to BC Hydro for the community re-greening program grant for up to $5,000 to provide trees, and that any costs not covered by the grant be funded through the cemetery service.

Lund sewer

The regional board endorsed an approximate seven per cent increase to the 2020 Lund sewer user fee schedule. The Lund sewer user rates amendment bylaw shows a fee of $487 for residential users in 2020, and a variety of user fees for commercial users.

Myrtle pond

Regional directors voted to endorse an approximate 3.21 per cent increase to the 2020 Myrtle pond water user fee schedule.

Leishman appointed

City director CaroleAnn Leishman will be appointed to the Vancouver Island and coastal communities climate leadership plan steering committee, with Electoral Area E director Andrew Fall appointed as the alternate.

Fee increases

Directors approved an amendment to the solid waste regulation and tipping fee bylaw. Effective January 1, 2020, the solid waste tipping fee will be $230 per tonne; as of January 1, 2021, the fee will be $235 per tonne; effective January 1, 2022, the fee will be $240 per tonne. According to the bylaw, a minimum charge of $5 will apply to all waste loads less than 25 kilograms.

Connected communities

The regional board will direct staff to take the necessary steps to receive connectivity funding to develop and implement plans for a connected region. The board also will direct staff to prepare a memo outlining steps regarding development and implementation of a plan for a connected region.

Office closure

The qathet Regional District office will be closed from 4:30 pm on Friday, December 20, until 8:30 am on Monday, January 6, 2020.