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Derby Fishers’ delight
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Youth group moves forward
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Vol. 90 Issue 04 • Wednesday, January 23, 2013 • www.arrowlakesnews.com • 250-265-3823 • $1.25 •
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Nakusp water and sewer rates to increase for 2013 Claire paradis Arrow Lakes News
Nakusp residents will see a hike in their water and sewer rates this year. The proposed increases brought to the table during the last council meeting on Jan. 14 were 10 per cent for sewer and five per cent for water. Water and sewer classifications have also been given a general overall review, and changes to the rate structure are to be put into place before the rates are set for 2013. Although it has been acknowledged that a complete review of the rate structure should not be completed until the outcome of the CBT WaterSmart program (e.g. assessment of the feasibility of water metering) is determined, it is still prudent to give a general overview of the rate structure. Discussion about the change in rate structure and the increase covered a lot of ground and addressed issues ranging from the state of the economy to the necessity of building up reserve finances. Starting off with the changes in rate struc-
ture, Chief Financial Officer Rob Richards brought up the fact there has been an issue keeping water and sewer rates consistent. Having done research in tandem with Public Works, the CFO explained there were 780 accounts but 1,700 services billed in the Village system. Some situations where a discrepancy was discovered in the course of research, such as instances where either water or sewer weren’t being charged, have been rectified, and billing will reflect the correction of those errors, the CAO told council. Typically the ratio between water and sewer in Nakusp is that for every $120 charged for water, $100 is being charged for sewer, the CFO explained. Category rates were examined and brought into line with this ratio. Changes to categories for water and sewer rates were proposed, such as structuring rates for water-intensive businesses, to reflect the realities of usage. For instance, rates will be based on the number of washing machines in a laundromat or bays at a car wash rather
A back up was added to the lift station by the Japanese gardens in 2012, part of sewer costs for the Village. Claire Paradis/Arrow Lakes News than charging a basic laundromat rate. Some new categories will be created to increase the accuracy of billing, while others will be collapsed where different categories are redundant. CAO Tynan said the structure changes are
also meant to bring consistency to the rates charged for water and sewer. “We’ll be able to get more information in
See Water page 2
Nakusp Secondary students’ fishing flasher project attracts attention Claire paradis Arrow Lakes News
Emma Cunningham and Whitney Shkuratoff demonstrate how the fishing flasher works at the Nakusp council Jan. 14 meeting. Claire Paradis/Arrow Lakes News
With bright fishing flasher in hand, Emma Cunningham and Whitney Shkuratoff brought the Outdoor Education fund raising project to council Jan. 14. NSS students are spearheading a project to raise money by making and selling fishing flashers which the students will be taking to an upcoming trade show down at the coast. “It’s completely student driven,” said Cunningham, “Mr. Boswell is just there as a supervisor. The students take it on as their own project.” The flashers come from a design Outdoor Ed. teacher Dorian Boswell came up with after seeing something similar and subsequently improved upon. Last year students sold about 100 flashers at $40 apiece. “It’s really good for Dollies,” Cunningham, who was planning to be part of the Blue Knuckle Fishing Derby on the weekend, testified. The students have been building the fishing accessories for about two years now, and took part in a trade show last
year. This year, they’re putting their flasher on the market, taking them to sell at the trade show. Approximately 2,000 people come through the doors each day of the show, giving a lot of exposure to the students’ project, and the village. “This year, we rented two booths,” Cunningham told council. “one for flashers, the other to advertise Nakusp.” The Chamber of Commerce, the Nakusp Rodeo, and other places around town are already sold on the idea and have contributed promotional materials for the booth. The bait on the hook was Cunningham’s next question: What would the Village of Nakusp like to put in the booth? Mayor Karen Hamling said the Village would definitely want to put something about the Nakusp Hot Springs in the booth. The mayor also made it clear that although Council can’t fund projects like this, they would be able to help by lending a booth for the students to take to the show. Boswell said one thing the students are looking for is a point-of-sale machine
so they can take credit card payments for flashers. Suggestions were made that a local business that might be able to help. Boswell said there is a lot of enthusiasm in town for the project. “We’re getting lots of support for this and it looks like it’s going to be a good experience for the kids. It’s all student driven,” he told council. “Students are making the promotional video, they’re doing the signs, they’re doing the slogans, they’re making the things, they’re marketing it. They have to do the accounting, they have to set up the booths, they have to figure out how to get down there; this is all them.” Both the Chamber of Commerce and the Nakusp Community Foundation have approved funding for the students’ trip to the trade show. “Anybody who wants to advertise anything to do with Nakusp, we’ll take it,” said Boswell, who also mentioned the group is also looking for two bigscreen TVs to take for their display as well. Anyone who has a promotional video or material is welcome to get in touch with the Outdoor Education class and Dorian Boswell.
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