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Council gives support to playground at Raft River

The courtyard at the back is mostly empty and would be a good location for a playground for older students.

Raft River Elementary School's parents advisory council (PAC) wants to build a playground for intermediate students in the school's back courtyard, according to PAC president Sabine Cooperman.

She asked Clearwater town council for a letter of support during council's Sept. 3 meeting.

The playground in front of the school is designed for primary-aged students, she said.

The courtyard at the back of the school is mostly empty and would be a good location for a playground for older students.

More than half of the 320 students at Raft River are in grades 4 to 7, she said.

After talking with the students the PAC members found that they preferred a playground with a variety of activities for everyone, rather than one dedicated to just one sport, such as a basketball court.

The councillors voted to give Cooperman the letter of support. The also invited her to discuss with staff the possibility of receiving a grant-in-aid from the municipality.

There was some concern expressed that the PAC's project might conflict with a proposal by the Mayer family to build a spray park for Clearwater. However, Cooperman said the two projects would be intended for different groups in different locations, and would use mostly different funding sources.

New pressure station

Council approved spending up to $75,000 to purchase and install a new pressure reduction station for Swanson Road.

The valve in the present station has failed, public works superintendent Jared Brounstein reported.

The existing valve supplies enough flow for domestic purposes but not enough for fire protection.

The new station will be located in an underground chamber.

Roads to be chip sealed

Chief administrative officer Leslie Groulx reported that council had approved during an in camera meeting proceeding with a cost sharing agreement with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for 10 km of chip seal surface treatment.

About 10 km of road is to be treated in Kershaw, Miller and Grier subdivisions.

Maximum cost of the project would be $150,000.

Fish hatchery gets exemption

A 20 per cent tax exemption will be given Clearwater Trout Hatchery, council decided.

The hatchery has been totally exempt from property taxes to the District since incorporation.

However, it appears town council feels that only a portion of the community service the hatchery performs directly benefits Clearwater.

The hatchery recently had its classification changed by BC Assessment from farm to business class, which put it into a higher tax ratio.

 

Cost of the tax exemption to the municipality would be about $2,300 for 2014 and 2015.