REPRESENTING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES in the KOOTENAYS December 2015  for More Information, Please Contact Anitra Winje, Corporate Officer, at 250.352.8166

Web: www.rdck.ca Email: [email protected] Phone: (250) 352-6665

REPRESENTING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN THE KOOTENAYS December 2015  For more information, please contact Anitra Winje, Corporate Officer, at 250.352.8166

Back in the Chair The Board acclaimed Karen Hamling as its Chair for 2016. This will be Chair Hamling’s second year in the role. She said the Board and staff have accomplished much over the past year but still have a lot of work to do for our taxpayers and constituents.

Vice-Chair Elected The Board elected Lawrence Chernoff to once again serve at the Board’s Vice-Chair. He emphasized the need for the Board to think regionally and work as a unit.

Area I Volunteers Honoured Three Area I residents were honoured for their long service to the RDCK:

Fred Bojey: 35 years as member of the Area I Advisory Planning Commission & an Alternate Director Andy Ozeroff: 35 years as a member of the Area Advisory Planning Commission Jim Crawford: 20 years as a member of the Area I Advisory Planning Commission

The RDCK expresses its deep gratitude to these gentlemen for their commitment and dedication to their communities.

We appreciate the hard work of all of our volunteers.

Pass a Go The Board approved the implementation of regional wellness pass which will enable holders to access services at any of the RDCK recreation facilities.

RDCK Talks Budget The Board will hold two Special meetings to discuss the RDCK budget in early 2016:

January 20th at 1:00 p.m. February 17th at 1:00 p.m.

‘Tis the Season to Exchange your Wood Stove The RDCK is once again offering residents of the RDCK and local municipalities a $350 incentive to replace their old, inefficient wood stoves with new, cleaner-burning units. For more information, visit http://www.rdck.ca/EN/main/services/sustainability-environmental-initiatives/air.html

MUNICIPALITIES: Cities: Castlegar, Nelson Town: Creston Villages: Kaslo, Nakusp, New Denver, Salmo, Silverton and Slocan ELECTORAL AREAS:  A-Wynndel/East Shore Kootenay Lake B C D E F G H-The Slocan Valley IJ-Lower Arrow/Columbia K-The Arrow Lakes

RDCK Staff Recognized for Long Service

The following staff members were honoured for their long service to the RDCK: Darryl Plotnikoff Building Official 25 years Stuart Durning Facility Maintenance 20 years Neil Ostafichuk Recreation Supervisor 20 years Patrick Garrigan Facility Maintenance 20 years Lorna Koehle Building Administrative Assistant 15 years Bill Kootnikoff Site Operator 15 years Sheila Kootnikoff Waste Attendant 15 years Tom Dool GIS Technician 10 years Cody Peck Water Technician 10 years Brad Golbeck Facility Maintenance 10 years Rob Chernenko Facility Maintenance 10 years Steve Ethier Utilities Supervisor 5 years Anitra Winje Corporate Officer/Manager of Corporate Administration 5 years Sangita Sudan General Manager of Development Services 5 years Allan Richardson Lead Hand Utility Technician 5 years Chris Talbot Development Services Administrative Assistant 5 years Gordon James Site Operator 5 years Darryl Zol Accounting Technician 5 years Judy Madelung Grants Coordinator 5 years Terry Swan Regional Fire Chief 5 years Vicky Issott Environmental Services Clerk 5 years Linda Teague Customer Service Representative 5 years Rebecca Wheeler Recreation Programmer 5 years Jackie Tetrault Facility Maintenance 5 years Chris Lehnert Network Administrator 5 years

Agriculture Land Use Inventory and Water Demand Model Staff will investigate grant funding options for an Agriculture Land Use Inventory and Water Demand Model project. Initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture, the project will provide a snapshot of all lands currently being farmed and the crop types grown for planning and economic development purposes.

Clean up Noise Pollution Gloria Lisgo addressed the Board about a petition to enforce existing regulations under the Motor Vehicle Act regarding motorcycle noise and speed. The petition, which contains 4,300 signatures, was presented to the Legislature on October 26, 2015. Ms. Lisgo said that excessive noise can have psychological and physiological effects on people exposed to it. She also stated that the value of properties located on routes prone to excessive vehicle noise decreases. She asked the Board to pressure their local RCMP detachments to enforce the Motor Vehicle Act.

GRANTS Capital Grant Johnsons Landing Community Association  Sign/bulletin board $976.00

Castlegar & District Youth Programs Grant  At-risk youth programming & partnership with SD #20 $5,000.00

Community Development Grants The Board approved the following Community Development grants:

AREA A: South Kootenay Lake Community Service Society: $2,000.00 (hardware: laptop, projector, speakers, keyboard) South Kootenay Lake Community Service Society: $2,500.00 (matching funds for grant: learning centre) South Kootenay Lake Community Service Society: $10,000.00 (Trans Canada Trail)

AREA G: Rosebud Wireless: $1,000.00 Royal Canadian Legion Branch 217: $1,000.00 Salmo Health Care Auxiliary: $1,000.00

AREA H: Slocan Lake Golf Club: $5,000.00

AREA I: Shoreacres Neighbourhood Community Association: $250.00 St. David's Anglican Church: $1,000.00 Castlegar Harvest Food Bank: $500.00

AREA J: Castlegar Harvest Food Bank: $500.00

AREA K: Bayview Residents Association: $2,000.00

TOWN OF CRESTON: Town of Creston (Xmas lights): $20,000.00

VILLAGE OF SALMO: Village of Salmo (Window Art & Picture Gallery) $11,500.00

Discretionary Grants The Board approved the following Discretionary grants:

AREA A: Boswell Nifty Needlers Quilt Guild: $700.00 Creston Valley Bird Festival Committee of Wildsight: $500.00 East Shore Garden of Remembrance: $1,500.00 Many Bays Community Band (East Shore Singers): $100.00

AREA C: Better at Home Valley Community Services: $1,000.00 Creston Valley Bird Festival Committee of Wildsight: $1,500.00

AREA F: Castlegar Sculpture Walk: $3,500.00

AREA I: Castlegar & District Minor Hockey Association: $250.00

AREA J: Castlegar & District Minor Hockey Association: $250.00 Robson Volunteer Fire Department: $2,000.00 Castlegar & District Minor Hockey Association: $250.00

RDCK Board and Staff wish everyone a happy, healthy holiday and all the best for 2016!