Local news briefly…

There’s going to be some pretty heavy equipment dredging the Illecillewaet River this spring.

A statement from BC Hydro said the dredging program slated for March is intended to reduce the risk of flooding to low-lying residences in the area. “The work to remove river gravel will be conducted downstream of the Fourth Street Bridge starting in early March when river conditions are suitable,” the statement said. “The work is expected to take about 10 days.”

The statement asked recreational users of the Illecillewaet River area to be mindful that heavy equipment may periodically cross the Illecillewaet dyke and Illecillewaet Greenbelt Society Lands from the Downie Mill yard and use the road along the south side of the Illecillewaet River and Illecillewaet River bridge. Traffic control measures will be in place as needed to protect public safety.

For more information please call Jennifer Walker-Larsen
at BC Hydro, 250-814-6645, or send her an e-mail at:
jennifer.walker-larsen@bchydro.com.

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RSS and Begbie View Elementary may be the best-equipped schools in town and now we can be sure they are the most Orwellian, too, as the SD 19 board of trustees noted that they now boast video surveillance systems.

Board Chairman Alan Chell said the video systems were installed to “protect property and individuals’ safety” as part of the district’s agreement with the Ministry of Education on their construction and operation.

He said there are no plans to install video surveillance systems at Columbia Park or Arrow Heights Elementary Schools.

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Monday is the BIG DAY for groups seeking funding from the Columbia Basin Trust’s Community Initiatives and Affected Areas Program. The annual program has about $300,000 available to project proponents in Revelstoke.

That’s a big chunk of change and local groups need to ensure that they have as many supporters as possible at the meeting, which takes place at the Community Centre starting at 7 pm.

Every community has a different method for allocating the funds. Here in Revelstoke, non-profit groups seeking funding make public presentations and at the end of the meeting participants vote on the 10 projects they liked the best. You must be a member of one of the participating groups in order to cast a vote. Final determination is made by a committee that reviews the projects and the votes.

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Are you yearning for a new iPad? Well you can win one! RevyBook Classifieds is offering a new iPad to some lucky person who places an ad on the  the classified-style website.

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SD 19 Trustees have approved a $429,045 increase to the district’s $11.48 million budget.

This change is due to $137,427 in Ministry of Education operating grants, a $6,000 Industry Training grant to support students in apprenticeship programs, $68,990 in lease revenues from the Conseil Scolaire Francophone which uses part of AHE for its Ecole des Glaciers, revenues from Neighbourhood of Learning Centre tenants, $18,825 in international student fees and funding from other sources.

Please click here to read the budget amendment.

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 The Columbia Shuswap Regional District’s Board of Directors has agreed to signing a 10-month agreement with Summit Environmental Consultants Inc. for environmental monitoring at CSRD refuse disposal sites in Golden, Revelstoke, Sicamous, Skimikin, and Salmon Arm.

Waste Management Coordinator Ben Van Nostrand explained although this would normally go to tender, awarding a short term contract will allow the CSRD to explore the option of combining other existing environmental monitoring contracts next year.

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In light of a court ruling concerning elected officials who have a dual role as directors of non-profit societies, CSRD CAO Charles Hamilton told the board he had solicited legal advice.

Hamilton told the board there is a “lack of clarity” and suggested that if directors are also on other boards or committees, they should err on the side of caution and excuse themselves from the discussion if funding is being requested from their local government. “This is still fairly fluid, we don’t have to stop business as usual but my suggestion is to err on the side of caution,” he said.

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No elections were necessary as Area ‘E’ Director Rhona Martin’s nomination to become chairwoman of the CSRD’s Area Directors (EAD) Committee was uncontested. She replaces Revelstoke Mayor David Raven.

Area B Director Loni Parker accepted the nomination for  vice-chairwoman. Her nomination was also uncontested.

Directors Martin and Parker will hold these positions for 2013.