TASTE TEST
The annual Sooke Harbourside Lions’ A Taste of BC is on.
Editorial
Page 9
Entertainment
Page 24
Sports/stats
Page 33
36 pages in one section
Page 5
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Black Press C O M M U N I T Y
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Horseshoe club gains Safer water for Kemp land for eight pitches Lake water users possible Pirjo Raits
Sooke News Mirror
Pirjo Raits photo
The portion of Sooke River Park which will be utilized by the Sooke Horseshoe Pitching Association for eight pitches.
Pirjo Raits
Sooke News Mirror
At the District of Sooke council meeting on January 26, council recommended approval of a two-year agreement between the district and the Sooke Horseshoe Pitching Assoc. for use of a portion of the Sooke River Park as a horseshoe pitch. The park is located across Sooke River Road from Fred Milne Park. The asssociation will get use of approxi-
mately 20 metres by 30 metres for eight horseshoe pitches. Councillor Bev Berger, who had opposed the motion in October 14, still said she felt the location was not the best and would vote against the motion to sign the agreement. “I think your association is a wonderful association and I hope you flourish but I don’t think this is the best location. “This area is going to be limited,” she said and mentioned the fact that the district did not
have a park plan. The idea of a horseshoe pitch came about at least three years ago. Council turned down a proposal to have the club use space in John Phillips Memorial Park. If further expansion or building a clubhouse takes place the agreement would have to be amended. According to the Agricultural Land Commission, if a clubhouse is built it cannot exceed 1,000 square feet. Staff proposed angled parking on the district right-of-way.
For years the residents getting their drinking water from Kemp Lake have not met Island Health’s potability standards. They were given a couple of options, one of them included building a new water treatment plant and the other extending the water main along West Coast Road at Erinan. The extension would be about two kilometers to the Kemp Lake Water Distribution system. To accomplish this the CRD staff have explored accessing a Small Community Grant from the federal government. At the CRD Electoral Area Services Committee meeting on January 21, the decision was made to apply for a grant to extend the water main. The preliminary budget is estimated to total $1.8-million of which $1.6-million is expected to be grant eligible. “If successful,” said Jan de Fuca Electoral Area Director Mike Hicks, “Kemp Lake Water Distribution would receive two-thirds of the cost. There’s a pretty good
chance, we heard they (the federal government) is favoring water over sewage projects. I’m very excited for the Juan de Fuca and Kemp Lake people.” Kevan Brehart, chair of the KLWD Board of Trustees said, “It is going to be fabulous for the residents out there if the grant goes through, it will save us a lot of money.” The KLWD does not have sufficient funds within their reserves for their share of the project. In order to raise the funds, the CRD will have to establish a local service for the KLWD area, and receive elector approval for a loan authorization. The elector approval process/referendum must be completed within six months of receiving
approval of the grant. Brehart said 460 homes would affected by the decision but it would have to go to referendum or an alternative approval process. “We’re hoping for the alternative approval process,” said Brehart. “The issue is that we don’t meet VIHA’s drinking water guidelines.” He said the system has still allowed residents to use the water because they have been diligently trying to solve the issue. “It’s something we have to do, we don’t have a choice.” The KLWD would be responsible for the ownership, system hydraulics, and water quality beyond the terminus of the JDFWD system and ensuring
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that there water is distributed to its owners is of adequate flow rate and pressure, and safe to drink. Both Brehart and Hicks expressed appreciation for the work each was doing to ensure the grant was applied for. The grant application need to go before the CRD Board by the February 17 deadline. The entire project would need to be completed by 2018. Hicks stated that this would be wonderful for the people in the KLWD as this is the only project being applied for, and it might give them the edge. “We went for this one, and it’s a biggie,”said Hicks.