Via Suzanne Trevis:

Gold River Village Council

September 17, 2015

Present for the regular meeting were Mayor Brad Unger, Councillors Rod MacLeod, Darcy Curr, Gordon Waterman and Kirsty Begon.  Administrator Larry Plourde was also present. There were twelve members of the public and the press in the gallery.

During Open Session the press asked if council had had any talks with Western Forest Products with regards to some permanent layoffs that have recently been announced.  Mayor Unger said they had only been advised that week of what was going on and had not had an opportunity yet to speak with anyone.

Marcus Schluschen spoke to a letter that he had on the agenda regarding cell service in the community. The administrator explained that while the local community has input into decisions around cell towers, they have minimal control over what can be done as it is federally regulated.  Companies such as Telus look for input from communities and like to respect what they want, but are under no obligation to go along with it if they want something different.

The meeting was called to order and the agenda was approved.  Minutes from the Regular Council Meeting held September 8 were adopted.  Two reports were received.  The first dealt with Permissive Tax Exemptions, which must be posted publicly before being adopted as a bylaw.  The bylaw provides for certain properties to be exempt from paying the municipal portion of their property taxes. This list includes lands and/or buildings for public worship, charitable, recreation or other not for profit organizations.  They are as follows:

The second report was an amendment to the Council Procedure Bylaw, it changes the time of council meetings from 7:30 to 7pm and was passed unanimously.

Under Council Information Items Mayor Unger reported on the Regional District Meeting at which they discussed how the new hospitals are coming along.  The VIHA website has a new video that shows a unique view of the project and what stage things are at.  He stated that the Campbell River Hospital is on time and on budget.  They are hoping to have it open for September 9, 2017 – exactly 50 years since the first CR Hospital opened!

They also discussed Waste Management and difficulties some communities, such as Tahsis, are having with scavenging etc.  The Comox Regional District took part in a pilot project involving organic waste that has apparently left them with too much dirt!  Other communities are currently looking at similar projects.

Council then passed a motion to pay expenses for Mayor Unger, Councillors Begon and Waterman, and Administrator Larry Plourde to travel to UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities Convention) next week.

There were four items of correspondence received, with discussion on the following.

Norm & Ruby Paulson, thanked the community for hosting such an awesome event for the Villages Birthday.

WFP advised the village of a cut block that will have a (minimal) visual impact on the village (Ucona Road, toward Star Lake).

There were no questions for council, but under New Business the Mayor advised that Councillors Curr & MacLeod, as members of the Economic Development committee, have 3 items to look at while other councillors were at UBCM.

We look forward to hearing what plans council has when they return in October.

With no further business council was adjourned at 7:23.

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