From the Ashcroft Council meeting on Aug. 26.
Roll Call: Mayor Andy Anderson and councillors Alice Durksen, Jerry Fiddick and Doreen Lambert. Missing: Coun. Helen Kormendy.
Lac-Megantic support
Council voted to donate $250 to the town of Lac-Megantic to help them rebuild after the train derailment and fire on July 6 decimated the community, and to send a letter of sympathy and support.
The action was precipitated by a letter from Port McNeill Mayor Gerry Furney who issued a challenge to all Canadian communities to send a letter and a donation to Her Worship Mayor Colette Roy-Laroche of Lac-Megantic “to support one of our colleagues who is faced with some unbelievable challenges.”
Ashcroft goes green
Council received a letter from the Province of BC and the Union of BC Municipalities Green Communities Committee congratulating Ashcroft for the Village’s successful efforts to measure and reduce its corporate Greenhouse Gas emissions for the 2012 reporting year.
“As a Charter signatory who has completed a corporate carbon inventory for the 2012 reporting yer and has demonstrated familiarity with the Community Energy and Emissions Inventory, you have been awarded Level 2 recognition – ‘Measurement’,” stated the letter.
“In recognition of your achievements, the GCC is very pleased to provide you with ‘green communities’ branding for use on official websites and letter heads.”
“Good on us,” replied Mayor Andy Anderson.
“We’ll take the recognition and celebrate,” said Coun. Alice Durksen.
16 Mile Fire Rescue Truck
Council approved the sale of their surplus 1981 Ford Fire Rescue vehicle to the 16 Mile Society for $300. The Village purchased a “new” Rescue vehicle from Logan Lake earlier this year. The old Rescue vehicle will be used by the 16 Mile Volunteer Fire Dept.
“That’s a pretty good place for it to go,” stated Mayor Anderson. “I hope they can make some good use out of it.”
Memorial Bench Policy
Council approved a new policy for the Purchase and Placement of Memorial Benches in town.
In the past, the Village Public Works crew built the memorial benches and picnic tables and the Village sold them for $250. They were substantial and held up well, but required maintenance and the cost to build them was far more than the Village received in selling them.
In 2012 the Second Time Around committed donated three benches to the Village. They were built in Ontario and made of recycled plastic with a 50 year guarantee against breakage. They can also be placed in locations such as the cemetery were regular irrigation won’t have any impact on them.
However, advised Village Administrator Michelle Allen, having them shipped from Ontario is pricey and she recommended that they order six at a time. Even with ordering so many, purchase price would be $1,500 per bench plus GST.
Also in the policy, the purchaser will complete a Memorial Bench Purchase Form and submit it to the Village Office; the Village will endeavour to place the bench in a mutually acceptable location; the Village will place an order once six benches have been ordered and paid for; the purchaser can pay the entire price for the bench, shipping and handling fees if they don’t want to wait until six benches have been ordered; and the Village has the sole discretion to determine the supplier and style of bench available through the program.
Tables and Chair Policy
Council approved a new policy for Tables and Chairs for Ashcroft Community Hall and Drylands Arena. It describes which tables stay in the Community Hall, which can be moved between the hall and the arena, and which are to be rented out.
In 2007 the Village purchased a number of six-foot long tables and folding chairs which can only be used in the hall and the arena by user groups and their use is included in the facility rental fee; in 2013 the Village purchased 12 six-foot round tables with a storage rack, and they can be used only in the hall; many years ago the Rodeo Association donated the use of approximately 40 tables with chairs to the Village, and they are rented out to individuals or groups for use within the community – the Village collects the rental fee and annually forwards the fees to the Rodeo Association for the replacement of damaged tables.
Next meeting
Sept. 9 at 4:30 pm in the Village Office.