From the Cache Creek Council meeting of Feb. 12.
Roll Call: Mayor John Ranta and councillors Lisa Dafoe, Herb Hofer, Wyatt McMurray and Darrell Rawcliffe.
Roads and parks grant turned down
Coun. Wyatt McMurray advised Council that its $4.5 million grant application for road reconstruction had been turned down again, as well as its $928,500 application for the design and construction of walking and bicyling trails around town.
The trails plan was part of the Parks, Recreation and Trails Master Plan adopted by Council last summer. At that time, Council said it wouldn’t move forward with the work unless it had “100 pe cent grants” in place to pay for it.
The road reconstruction was for Sun Valley Crescent, Parke Road, Maclean Crescent and Old Cariboo Road and the work included replacement of water services and storm sewers where required, and the installation of pavement, curb, gutter and sidewalks.
Councillors expressed their disappointment.
Fifty-three projects out of 200 submitted were approved for other BC municipalities under the Gas Tax Agreement Strategic Priorities Fund, totalling over $53 million. Council was advised that no further funding available under the 2012 General Strategic Priorities Fund/Innovations Fund.
Street Banners
Cache Creek streets will be adorned by student artwork this summer when it replaces its street banners. Their theme will be “activities that youths like to do in Cache Creek, with a focus on Graffiti Days.”
“I believe it’s a great collaboration with the kids and something they can be proud of,” said Coun. Lisa Dafoe.
Last year the Village applied for and received an $825 grant from the United Way to involve Cache Creek students from Gr 3-12 in the painting of community street banners this year. Artist Jo Petty agreed to assist the students who will collaborate and paint 14 banners. Four of those banners will be selected and reproduced on the banners.
High School Bursary
Council agreed to provide a $500 bursary for Cache Creek students graduating from Ashcroft Secondary this year. They provided a similar bursary in 2011 and 2012.
Scout Jamboree
Council turned down a request from 1st Ashcroft Scouts for funding to help them send two members to attend the 12th Canadian Jamboree in Sylvan Lake, Alberta.
Coun. McMurray suggested that individual councillors could use their discretionary funds to make a donation if they wished to.
Coun. Rawcliffe said he would donate $25.
Minor Hockey
Council turned down a request from the Thompson Cariboo Minor Hockey Association to sponsor the 2013/14 season.
Snow left in driveways
Council directed staff to identify people in town who needed the Village to clean out their driveways after the snow plough piled it up across the entrances - people who were either elderly or disabled and could not clean the extra snow left behind.
Council said it was a Village policy to do this, but that years of change in staff had forgotten that such was the case.
New old truck
Council approved the purchase of a used 2011 GMC 4x4 pickup for $15,000 to be used by public works staff.
The truck was in last year’s budget, but no suitable truck could be found.
The purchase subject to a satisfactory test drive, inspection, lien search, information on remaining warrant and ICBC confirmation of no major accidents.
Next Meeting
Feb. 25 at 4:30 pm.