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MERRITT HERALD TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2013 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS
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City implements Flood Prevention Plan By Staff
Flood Prevention Plan and is proactively planning in the event flood protection measures along the Nicola River, within the city, are required. Residents can protect their properties by following the advice offered on the Emergency Management British Columbia’s website: embc.gov.bc.ca. “As it stands now we’re getting ready for whatever comes at us,” said McKeown. “We’ll have to be ready for what Mother Nature throws at us.” McKeown warns residents to keep a respectful distance from river banks and keep children and animals safe. “River banks may be slippery and when combined with fast-moving water, pose a potential hazard,” he added. The City of Merritt urges residents living along the Nicola River or travelling through the area to be alert for potentially damaging flows or obstructions which should be reported to city hall at 378-4224. Additionally, residents are urged to pay attention to local media The banks of the Nicola River are nearly full as recent weather conditions are creating havoc with nearby lakes and rivers. Emily Wessel/Herald for current information.
THE HERALD newsroom@merrittherald.com
In a press release sent out on Thursday, the City of Merritt said they had been advised by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations that the current inflow to Nicola Lake is continuing to exceed outflow; therefore, they anticipate the Nicola River will rise to near bank-full levels through the city. This is a result of the current weather trend and flood storage in Nicola Lake being consumed. “The inflow into the lake is currently exceeding the outflow,” said Sky McKeown, emergency program co-ordinator for the City of Merritt. “We’re expecting over the next few days that as the river rate slows going into the lake, we hope at some point it meets what we’re releasing. Until then, we’re seeing the Nicola River as it flows through Merritt, rise up.” In response, the City of Merritt has implemented its
Tax hike approved as council passes budget By Craig Lindsay THE HERALD
newsroom@merrittherald.com
At the Merritt City Council meeting on May 14, councillors voted to accept the new five year financial plan for the city for 2013-17. Council had met several times and discussed the proposed budget, which includes such items as a new lacrosse box and concession/washrooms for Central
Park and a new water treatment building at the public works yard. The public had a chance to view the plan and ask questions to council and city staff at an open consultation meeting on April 23. At a special meeting the following day, councillors passed and adopted the 2013 tax rates for the city. The rates result in an overall municipal tax revenue increase of 2.25
‘What we ended up doing, was spreading it across the board.’ —COUN. DAVE BAKER per cent from 2012, or $119,620. All tax rates will increase by 0.65 per cent for each class of property within the City of Merritt.
“I think the process was very good,” said Coun. Dave Baker. “What we ended up doing, was spreading it out across the
board which is something that’s not done all the time. Rather than have residential or light industry or heavy industry pay a little more, everyone takes a little bit of a hit rather than one or two groups taking the brunt.” Baker said the raising of taxes is important to keep Merritt competitive. “We have services we have to provide,” he said. “The way to get taxes down is to bring in more
industry and more business, which brings more people to Merritt. Therefore, we have to offer things such as parks and recreation centres to attract people, otherwise they’re going to go to bigger centres like Kelowna or Kamloops and commute here, which isn’t going to help us a whole lot.” Baker said the tax increase is reasonable, particularly compared to cities similar in size to Merritt.
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1701 Voght St., Merritt, B.C.
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Clearance Centre