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ALLEY CHO 10
BERNIE RAVEN CHRIS RAVEN 1-866-598-7415 TEAMRAVEN.CA Offices in Panorama, Invermere & Fairmont
tool in the trunk for 3 New Invermere fire squad
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05 INCLUDES GST
Maxwell Realty Invermere
SWIFTWATER SAFETY
PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NO. 7856
Five recruits from the Panorama Fire Department spent Saturday, June 14th learning the ropes of Swiftwater rescue during a training seminar in the rushing whitewater of Toby Creek. Pictured is Kyle Flynn throwing a safety line to Allegra Howe. See page 8 for more photos. PHOTO BY DAN WALTON
Windermere moving ahead on water, creek issues STEVE HUBRECHT steve@invermerevalleyecho.com Residents of Windermere, Fairmont Hot Springs and other communities in the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Area F heard from Area F director Wendy Booth and district staff at a town hall meeting last week on a number of prominent issues, including the Windermere Creek problems and the Windermere water system. During her director’s report, Booth outlined the history of the Windermere Creek problems, describing how the creek has seen flooding and high levels of sediments washed down the stream between Trethewey Beach and Shadybrook Resort in recent springs, resulting in local states of emergency being declared in 2011 and 2012, and a geotechnical report in late 2012 and early 2013. She also noted that a public meeting held on the issue in the spring
of 2013 was poorly attended. as I can,” Booth responded. “This is im“Due to that lack of attendance, noth- portant. I just have not had much suping was done (by the regional district) port on it until now.” because it wasn’t seen as a priority,” said Brian De Paoli, the temporary WindBooth. “However, as anybody who lives ermere Water System project superviin the area is aware, the problem still ex- sor, gave an update on the water sysists. It’s not going to go away on its own. tem upgrade situation, highlighting It needs help, even if it’s currently not on and giving a timeline to the new potenthe regional district tial groundwater priority list.” This is a catastrophe option, telling the She said she is as far as the lake is audience that the working closely groundwater test concerned . . . with Area F resident drilling program is WINDERMERE RESIDENT Christine Dubois AREA F TOWN HALL MEETING likely to begin in on trying to raise July and that a reawareness on the issue, so that some- port should be available in August or thing can be done about it. September. “This is a catastrophe as far as the Questions arose from the audience lake (Windermere) is concerned, but on how much progress has been made because some people didn’t show up in negotiating with Parr Utilities on the to a meeting, the powers that be have possibility of buying the private water decided it’s not a priority, that’s just sil- company outright to solve Winderly,” said an audience member. mere’s water issues, and on whether or “I agree; I’m running with it as much not there is any kind of final deadline for
VJ (Butch) Bishop Owner/Operator 4846 Holland Creek Ridge Rd. Invermere, BC V0A 1K0
resolving Windermere’s water situation. RDEK chief financial officer Shawn Tomlin responded to the Parr questions, saying negotiations with Parr had been put on hold while the groundwater option was being examined, and Booth responded to the deadline questions, saying Windermere and all other B.C. communities are supposed to have their water quality up to the new provincial standards by January 2015, but that there may be some wiggle room. “Yes, we have a deadline, but do I think it’s a deal-breaker? No,” she said. “It’s more important to make the right decision than to make a quick decision.” Tomlin also reviewed the regional district’s five-year financial plan for 2014 to 2018, which, for 2014, lays out a $24.5 million operating budget and a $3.56 million capital budget, with some of the primary sources of revenue being property tax ($16.75 million), See A3
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