Wednesday, March 16, 2016
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Volume 96 - No. 11
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www.ldnews.net
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$1.30 GST inc.
BURNS LAKE
LAKES DISTRICT NEWS
Re-use sheds expected to reopen by May
Arts festival is in full swing ...page 9
The sheds will have staff, hours of operation and regular inspections FLAVIO NIENOW
During a recent committee of the whole meeting of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN), the committee recommended to the board of directors that the re-use sheds reopen under certain conditions. During the meeting, some directors expressed how pressured they have been by community members to reopen the re-use shed facilities, which have been closed since September 2015. “I can’t keep saying ‘I don’t know anymore,’” said Mark Fisher, Director of Electoral Area A (Smithers Rural). “I need some timelines.” “I don’t want to prolong this for too long,” said Eileen Benedict, Director of Electoral Area E (Francois/Ootsa Lake Rural). Regional district staff have been developing minimal standards associated with the operation of the re-use sheds to address liability issues. Recommendations made by a risk management company included implementing hours of operation at the re-use sheds, hiring staff to manage operation of the facilities and having regular inspections prior to opening and after closing. Staff recommended that the Burns Lake transfer station be open from Thursday to Sunday from 10:30 a.m. ...see RE-USE SHEDS ▼ P3
Council deals with deficit
Tax rate for residents to increase by one per cent FLAVIO NIENOW In the story ‘Burns Lake council tries to balance the budget’ published in the Lakes District News’ Feb. 24, 2016 issue, Burns Lake council had asked village staff to prepare additional scenarios to reduce the village’s budget deficit. At the start of March 7 budget meeting, council was dealing with a budget deficit of $41,243. Village staff presented council with five options to address the budget deficit. Options included re-
moving the proposed two per cent business tax rate reduction and increasing Lakeside Multiplex rates for village residents by 25 per cent. During a previous budget meeting, council voted to raise Lakeside Multiplex user fees for members from outside the village boundary - increasing user fees for electoral areas B and E members as well as visitors to the community by 25 per cent. Councillors also discussed removing additional smaller items from this year’s budget, including the installation of cameras in Spirit Square and replacing Christmas lights with LEDs. Another option for reducing the deficit included funding from the village’s reserves, budgeted for the construction of a new columbarium, as using ...see VILLAGE BUDGET ▼ P5
Spring Break is the Time to Take Training! Traffic Control Flagging............ March 22 or May 28 Log Scaling and Grading .............................. April 25
Occupational First Aid Level 3 ...................... April 25 Occupational First Aid Recert ..........................May 2
Don’t see what you need? CNC Lakes can respond to training needs.
Call us! 250-692-1700
Phone: 250.692.1700 • Fax: 250.692.1750 • Toll Free: 1.866.692.1943 545 Highway 16 West • PO Box 5000, Burns Lake, BC • V0J 1E0 Email: lksdist@cnc.bc.ca • Website: www.cnc.bc.ca/lakesdistrict