Following are the council highlights form the March 1 District of Clearwater regular council meeting:
2022 budget
Staff provided mayor and council with feedback from the public consultation about the 2022 budget held on Feb. 24. A presentation during the consultation shared information about potential capital and operating projects, as well as how tax dollars are spent. It also gave a potential calculation for how a 2.5 per cent increase in municipal spending would affect an average homeowner’s property taxes. Public feedback was accepted until March 3.
Council asked staff if it was possible to review the feedback from the public, as well as the various levels of taxation before the budget is brought to the table in April as a bylaw.
The information provided from the public consultation will be discussed during the March 15 regular meeting. To view budget information, visit the DOC website: www.districtofclearwater.com.
Rural health conference
The District of Clearwater currently has 2.5 FTE physicians, though it requires five, said Coun. Shelley Sim. In August, she added, a third doctor will be joining the Clearwater team and will be working in town for two years, bumping up the number of physicians to 3.5.
Council discussed sponsorship opportunities for the upcoming BC Rural Health Conference in May, in an effort to recruit more physicians, nurses and locum doctors to the area.
A motion was made and passed by council to allocate $3,000 from the recruitment and retention budget towards a sponsorship, which is to be decided after consultation with stakeholders involved.
Emergency plan
An draft Emergency Management Bylaw was brought to council. The draft updates the 2008-era bylaw.
In the event of an emergency, the bylaw would govern procedure. A copy of the draft bylaw can be viewed on the DOC website.
Council passed a motion to send the draft Emergency Management Bylaw for legal review. It will then be brought back to council at a later date.
Poetry month
A letter was written to mayor and council from Sandra Holmes, on behalf of the Wells Gray Writer’s Circle and the North Thompson Arts Council, about National Poetry Month, which takes place in April.
In the letter, Holmes requested a five-minute block at the beginning of the regular council meetings, for a poem to be read aloud to celebrate National Poetry Month and the arts in the community.
Council approved the request.
ALSO READ: Clearwater residents could see lower property taxes, despite 2.5% increase in taxation
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