From the Ashcroft Council meeting on Aug. 27.
Roll Call: Mayor Andy Anderson and councillors Alice Durksen, Helen Kormendy and Jackie Tegart. Missing: Coun. Jerry Fiddick.
Gas Tax revenue
The Village was notified that it will receive $58,540 as the first of two Community Works Fund payments for the 2012 fiscal year.
These funds are limited to use for eligible capacity building projects, public transit, community energy, water, wastewater or solid waste infrastructure projects that contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner water or cleaner air.
Climate Action Recognition
The Green Communities Committee notified the Village that it was creating a Climate Action Recognition Program with UBCM for BC local governments.
Coun. Helen Kormendy wondered if the solar panels installed at the seimming pool qualified for their program.
Administrator Michelle Allen said she would have to investigate the program and report back to Council.
The committee wrote that communities who signed the BC Climate Action Charter would be recognized annual for their measured progress on the Charter’s commitments and achievement of carbon neutrality.
BC Transit report
Council received an Annual Performance Summary 2011/12 for the local Community Bus.
The report indicated that ridership was down by 25 per cent from the year before, and that revenue had decreased by 11 per cent. On the other hand, operating costs had increased 3.5 per cent and actual total costs were 19 per cent above what was budgeted - mainly due to fuel and maintenance costs.
Administrator Allen advised Council that BC Transit will be sending a representative to the area this month to ride the bus and talk to people about the bus service.
Coun. Kormendy said she was pleased that BC Transit was supporting the communities in helping them make the bus system work and hopefully increase the ridership numbers and revenues.
Merritt Show and Shine
Council agreed to close Railway Ave. between 6th and 7th streets to traffic on Sept. 9 between 10 am and 4 pm so the the Merritt Chapter of the Vintage Car Club of Canada could park their old cars by Heritage Place Park for a Show and Shine.
Backyard burning
Council adopted Bylaw 777 which limits backyard burning to Oct. 1-14 with a permit from the Village.
Next meeting
Sept. 10 at 4:30 pm in the Village Office.