New MLA Jordan Sturdy met the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) board to hear questions and concerns from directors at a monthly meeting on Sept. 30. He said being Pemberton mayor and former SLRD director had been a good preparation for this new role and he was there to receive their input.
Several took him at his word and weighed in with their concerns, keeping the dialogue going for 25 minutes.
Area C directory Susie Gimse brought up the possibility that the SLRD might be on the hook to spend $7,500 on an archeological study similar to one already carried out by the Ministry of Transportation (MOTI) at the site of the proposed Devine Cemetery. Similar data already exists with another ministry, she said, a situation she called "a ridiculous waste of money," given the work in question will cost $10,000. Gimse asked Sturdy if there was some way to access the information without spending the money for a new study.
Another issue brought to the MLA was by Area B director Mickey Mackri on the lack of maintenance of the Douglas Trail Road, formerly known as the Highline Road, near D'Arcy, along with issues over maintenance of the Duffey Lake Road. Permanent residents along the road at Ponderosa have been issued road closure notices, which come after it was given provincial road status but without maintenance investment.
It was pointed out that during the 2003 flood in the region that the road was the only evacuation artery available. It has also been used during wildfires.
SLRD chair Patricia Heintzman invited Sturdy back to provide future updates.
Sea to Sky Trail contract awarded
Dream Wizards Events Ltd. has won the $67,125 contract for the resurfacing project for the Sea to Sky Mid-Cheakamus Trail. The contract was confirmed by the SLRD board, with chair Patricia Heintzman and CAO Flynn giving the go-ahead. The trail was completed in 2009 but the work did not hold up well, due to the types of rock used for surfacing, according to SLRD documents.
Whistler Aggregates withdraws TUP
Asphalt company Whistler Aggregates has put its temporary use permit for a proposed mobile asphalt plant at the Green River Pit in SLRD Area C request on hold.
"They have not officially withdrawn it (permanently), but they told us they want to withdraw it for the time being basically because of the slowdown in road work. They don't want their three years unnecessarily, so it will be coming back at their discretion," said Lynda Flynn, SLRD chief administrative officer.
BC Transit future plan discussed
The SLRD board received an information report for the Sea to Sky Transit Future Plan.
BC Transit has proposed leading local governments and key stakeholders in the Sea to Sky corridor through a 25-year planning model to create a vision for transit needs for the region.
"We would be working on it as the Sea to Sky corridor, so that would be the three municipalities and the SLRD," said Flynn.
Peter DeJong, SLRD director of administrative services, said the plan would have an impact regionally, inter-regionally and within municipalities.
"We have spent hours and tens of thousands of dollars on regional transit schemes. We have plans and reports to look at. And we, as a board, decided to not make regional transport a priority because we had other things to do," said Gimse. "So BC Transit comes now and says we're going to embark on this process. They're not bringing anything to the table. I just don't think BC Transit should be determining what our priorities are."
Award for former SLRD chair
The Municipal Insurance Association of BC has awarded a lifetime achievement award to former SLRD director and chairman Dan Cumming, announced Area C director Susie Gimse at the board meeting. Cumming represented Area D in the SLRD for 18 years. He is also a former president of the Union of BC Municipalities.
