Grand Forks Gazette, May 27, 2015

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Gazette Grand Forks

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015

$1.10 (includes tax)

Record attempt Page A3

VOL 118 NO. 21

Council moves to disqualify councillor Gazette Staff

Members of city council took the first steps to disqualifying councillor Julia Butler at an in-camera meeting Monday. At the regular council meeting Monday night Mayor Frank Konrad read a statement saying, “The City of Grand Forks city council voted in favour of filing an application to the court for the declaration of disqualification against councillor Julia Butler. The petition was filed pursuant to section 111 of the community charter application to court declaration of disqualification pursuant to section 110—restrictions on participation in conflict. “Council moved forward with a petition to protect the best interests of the organization and will proceed with the filing of the application to the COUNCILLOR Supreme Court immediately, ” JULIA BUTLER said the statement. Konrad added that although council would not be able to speak further on the matter as it is now filed in court, they wanted the citizens to be aware of the situation. Council voted 5-2 to accept the statement. Voting for the motion were Councillors Neil Krog, Michael Wirischagin, Chris Hammett and Christine Thompson. Mayor Konrad and Councillor Julia Butler opposed the motion. Earlier Monday, the city released a press release regarding conflict of interest issues involving both Butler and Konrad. That statement was based on an opinion from the city’s legal counsel, Young Anderson. Here are the full contents of that release: “In their commitment to the public to be transparent and open, council would like to advise that the City of Grand Forks sought a legal opinion from the organization’s lawyers Young Anderson regarding a conflict of interest that Mayor Konrad and Councillor Butler are perceived to be in. “The opinion received advised that Mayor Konrad has an indirect pecuniary conflict of interest in relation to the Water Meter Work, and Coucillor Butler has a direct pecuniary interest in relation to the Water Meter program. Both Mayor Konrad and Councillor Butler have been advised that they should recuse themselves from any further participation in relation to the respective matters in respect of which Young Anderson believes they have a conflict of interest and have advised both parties that they should obtain independent legal advice on the issue. “Young Anderson further advised that the remainder of council should encourage Mayor Konrad and councillor Butler to recuse themselves from any further participation to the respective matters.”

Youth act out (From left) Jailyn Needoba, Payton Maffioli and Drew Rieberger perform a skit on peer pressure as part of the DARE graduation ceremony on May 20. See story and photos on page A14. Craig Lindsay photo

Wells will be decommissioned CRAIG LINDSAY

Grand Forks Gazette

Several wells along Highway 3 will have to be decommissioned and removed. The ensuing work will take place on June 1-12 during daylight hours and will likely mean single lane alternating traffic. “B.C. Ministry of Environment (MOE) requires that groundwater wells that are no longer required must be properly decommissioned in accordance to the Groundwater Protection Act,” said Sasha Bird, manager of development and engineering for

Grand Forks. “To address this condition, Hemmera (an environmental company) is planning to decommission 85 groundwater monitoring wells along Highway 3 (Central Avenue) and surrounding streets and properties between 18th Street and Pahoda Slough.” Bird said the wells were installed in various locations to monitor contamination. The work involved in removing the wells will be done by contractors hired by Hemmera. “Hemmera is working for Chevron and Imperial Oil,” said Bird. “There is no cost to the city.”

Open fires now restricted

SOUTHEAST FIRE CENTRE Submitted to the Gazette

Open fires are now prohibited in the Southeast Fire Centre to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety. The Southeast Fire Centre covers the area extending from the U.S. border in the south to Mica Dam in the north and from the Okanagan Highlands and Monashee Mountains in the west to the B.C.-Alberta border in the east. Prohibited activities include: • the burning of any waste, slash or

other materials. • stubble or grass fires of any size over any area. • the use of fireworks, sky lanterns or burning barrels or cages of any size or description. • the use of binary exploding targets (e.g., for rifle target practice). • the use of air curtain burners (forced air burning systems). This prohibition does not ban campfires that are a half-metre high by a half-metre wide or smaller, and it does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes.

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