Sarah Fox
Rossland News
Five Year City Contract for ISL Engineering
After examining six engineering firms the city has chosen one to sign on a five-year contract. The companies we evaluated through criteria sheets, which counselors expressed could use some revision. The city chose ISL Engineering based out of Burnaby with an office in Rossland. The company scored the highest on the criteria sheets and was said to have served the community well, deserving the contract. ISL will be called upon to work on a wide variety of projects for the city as they come. Typical projects include surveying, water, wastewater and storm management, transportation systems, utilities systems, parks and trails, projects development related and other miscellaneous studies.
Reservoir Security Successful
The city spent three weeks diligently patrolling the reservoir to avert residents from swimming in the water. According to counselors, the amount of people abusing the reservoir diminished to zero. The city is no longer getting complaints from the residents in the area and for the most part citizens were respectful.
A Taste of Rossland Postponed
This year’s A Taste of Rossland has been postponed. According to locals, this is not the first time this has happened. The city council explained that businesses were too busy because of Golden City Days to commit to the event. It has been questioned whether the cancellation has anything to do with Julie Parker’s resignation from the Chamber of Commerce. Parker’s was the one of two Executive Directors of the Chamber of Commerce; the other is city counselor Jody Blomme. Despite this, the city confirms that it was the council’s decision to cancel the event. Local businesses and residents were disappointed in the cancellation.
Regional Fire Service Wants to Expand
The Regional Fire Service has requested to increase their budget in hopes of building a training centre in the area. City council expressed concerns about the cost of the project. The Fire Service intends to attract firefighters here, instead of having to pay to send them elsewhere. Teck would partner with the Regional Fire Service, but council is not convinced it would be cost effective.
RDKB Negotiates Trail’s Plans for Sewage Treatment System
The council discussed the implementation of a sewage pipeline in Trail. Trail is asking its regional partners to contribute 5.4 million dollars to the project, which would involve the building of a pedestrian bridge. Rossland Mayor Greg Granstrom attended the regional board meeting and carried a motion to negotiate with the City of Trail to contribute $2.7 million. In this circumstance the pipeline would connect to the Victoria St. Bridge instead of building a new pedestrian bridge. Rossland is willing to partner, but only for the cheapest option.
City Renews Contract with Islo’s Preschool and the Rossland Curling Association
The council has agreed to renew the lease on Islo’s Preschool, at 1899 Columbia Ave., for another year with a three per cent increase and the option to renew next year, due to the increasing cost of living. The council recognizes the enormous service she does for the community and hopes the preschool will continue.
A motion was carried to renew Rossland Curling Association’s lease for another two years with a two percent increase. The council acknowledges the hard work they have been putting in to promote the club and revenues have gone up in the past few years.
Hanna Creek Crossing Approved
The council has approved the statutory right of way agreement with the Ministry of Forest Lands and Natural Resources for the right to cross Hanna Creek to access lands beyond for logging purposes.
Loan Agreement with Esling Park Lodge Seniors Building
The city holds a $270,000 loan agreement with the Rossland Senior Housing Society for the Esling Park Lodge Seniors Building. The agreement will last for five years and be renegotiated after that.
City is Reapplying for CIPP Grant
The city applied for the Cycle Infrastructure Partner Program (IPP) this year, a cost-shared program with the government of B.C.. The B.C. government partners with local governments to build new transportation cycling infrastructure, promoting greener ways of transportation. Unfortunately, Rossland was denied the grant. They will be resubmitting in 2015 in hopes to work on the Pinewood connector trail, which is a part of our urban trail network.
Rossland has received three grants from CIPP in the past and they were all used in the construction of the urban trail system.