Account opened to help Kerstin Byman and Rowland Bell’s son
Stephanie Melnyk tells The Current that friends of the late Rowland Bell have opened a trust account to assist his partner Kerstin Byman and their unborn child Baby Boy Bell.
The account is at the Revelstoke Toronto-Dominion branch and the relevant numbers are: 9360 (branch), 004 (transit) and 6269011 (account).
Additional information is available on the Facebook page created to encourage donations. Please click here to visit the page.
The 30-year-old Bell passed away Monday, May 12, after three months in hospital with a very rare case of paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis. A celebration of his life is being held at the Revelstoke Community Centre on Tuesday, May 20, at 2 pm.
Please click here to read a heartfelt story about Rowland by Alex Cooper in The Times Review.
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City not on the hook for a sewer backup that cost an elderly widow $901.17
The City is not responsible for any of the costs incurred by an elderly widow who had to shell out $901.17 to deal with a sewer backup caused by a blockage in the sewer system.
“The blockage was on March 14 and my request for reimbursement had been denied by Mike Thomas and I feel very strongly that this is most unfair,” Sophie Salva said in a letter to Council.
“It was not my fault somebody put a stick into the City system. Therefore the City should reimburse me my costs for their problem. I am also still waiting for Public Works to repair my lawn for the mess they made.
“I am really frustrated with trying to recover my costs which is a hardship for me on just a senior’s pension. Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.”
Sophie said that when the backup occurred she called “Battersby’s Plumbing and they spent 5 hours to find that the blockage was not in my system but across the road in the City Sewer. It was a Friday afternoon so Public Works would not come until Monday morning so I had to go to the Super 8 for the weekend.”
However, Chief Administrative Officer Tim Palmer told Council that the City is protected under the Local Government Act when an accident, such as a sewer backup caused by something getting into the sewer pipes, adversely impacts a private citizen.
He said the City will fix damage to her lawn caused by snow removal services and asked Engineering and Development Services Director Mike Thomas to ensure that someone speaks personally with Sophie about the sewer issue.
Please click here to read Sophie’s Salva’s letter.
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Revelstoke Dam Visitor Centre showcases regional appeal
Ancient arrowheads meet modern turbines at the BC Hydro Revelstoke Dam Visitor Centre, opening for the summer season on May 17. Visiting the centre is a perfect way to celebrate both International Museum Day and Victoria Day this weekend.
A statements from BC Hydro said science, history and culture are all on display at the facility, which offers a unique look at how these powerful influences have influenced the region.
A monument to modern engineering, the Revelstoke Dam and generating station were completed in 1984. The powerhouse has an installed capacity of 2,570 megawatts, which makes it the second largest electricity generating facility in British Columbia, after the WAC Bennett Dam in Hudson’s Hope.
Magnificent views await visitors who take the elevator at the centre 35 storeys up to the top of the 175-metre-high dam. They are one of the reasons visitors have recommended the attraction on TripAdvisor as one of most popular sights in the area. People can also access a walkway at the powerhouse to get a closer look at the dam.
The First Nations gallery on site illustrates the traditional life of several local First Nations. The Shuswap Nation Tribal Council, the Okanagan Nation Alliance and the Ktunaxa Nation contributed to the gallery’s design and provided artifacts and artwork for numerous displays.
Revelstoke is home to one of four BC Hydro visitor centres in the province, and it will remain open seven days a week until Sept. 1. To learn more about the centre, please visit: bchydro.com/revelstoke or call 250-814-6600.
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Council waives security payment for Preliminary Layout Approval of the new Affordable Housing Project
Council voted to waive a 130% security deposit on the new affordable housing project slated for construction on Oscar Street this year.
“We would like to formally request that, due to the nature of this project, being that the City of Revelstoke is the registered property owner, the requirement for the provision of security per item B1.3.3 of the Preliminary Layout Approval for the offsite works be waived,” Affordable Housing Committee Chairman Mark McKee wrote in a letter to Council.
Council voted approve his request during its regular Tuesday, May 13 meeting.
Please click here to read Mark McKee’s letter.
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Council consider VVI siding donation, then orders inspection of the Golf Club
Concerned about its structural integrity, City Council is ordering up an inspection of the Golf Club.
It made the decision after receiving a letter from Club President Heather Duchman in which she urged the City accept a donation of Hardie Plank siding for the entire building from Lew Hendrickson of VicVanIsle.
“Upon further investigation by Lewis he determined there was some structural issues with the floor joists in the basement rotting due to water damage from the elements,” Heather wrote in her May 7 letter. “Lewis also noted the same exterior wall there are some structural issues that most likely need immediate attention.”
Council decided that someone from Engineering and Development Services should be dispatched to inspect the building.
Please click here to read Heather Duchman’s letter.
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Instructions for bidders on the City Hall reno contract
The City of Revelstoke is inviting qualified contractors to bid on Project ADM2014‐01- Revelstoke City Hall Renovation, located at 216 Mackenzie Ave, Revelstoke, BC.
Bid documents may be viewed at the following locations:
- Meiklejohn Architects Inc. — 201 – 75 Front Street, Penticton, BC, V2A 1H2
- City of Revelstoke — 216 Mackenzie Avenue Revelstoke, BC V0E 2S0
Bid documents requests or any general enquiries shall be directed to Anne Eggert at Meiklejohn Architects Inc., 201 – 75 Front Street, Penticton, BC, V2A 1H2
Phone: 250-492-3143
Email: anne-mai@shaw.ca
Please note that:
- A Bid Bond in the amount of 10% of the Bid Price is to accompany a bid in accordance with Clause 8 of the Instructions to Bidders requirements to be submitted with the bid, and
- Bids shall remain valid for a minimum of 90 days.
Bids are to be submitted, in accordance with Clause 6 of the Instructions to Bidders, to:
The Engineering Department, City of Revelstoke 216 Mackenzie Avenue Revelstoke, BC V0E 2S0
before 3 pm PST Wednesday, May 28, 2014.
Please click here to read the full Bid Invitation.
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12 new business licenses issued by the City
City Hall has issued 12 new licenses to a mix of businesses in town.
They include: Stoke Media; Kathleen Kenyon Physiotherapy; Revelstoke Cleaning and Management Services; GRP Educational Services; 1695499 AB Ltd., described simply as a “home occupation;” Dot’s Craft & Pantry Cottage; Love Making Design; Vineyard Technology Consulting; Integrity Roofing Corporation; Hiresun Holdings, a mobile food vendor; Bette’s Underthings & Clothing; and Onwords Consulting.
They bring the number of business licenses in Revelstoke to 913, up from 903 in March and 879 at this same time last year.
Please click here to see the City list of new business licenses.
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Special-occasion licenses approved
City Council approved four licenses for the following special occasions:
- A Canada Day beer garden hosted by Revelstoke Canine Search & Rescue in Queen Elizabeth Park on Tuesday, July 1 from 11 am to 6 pm;
- A Glacier Challenge beer garden hosted by the Rotary Club in Centennial Park on Friday, August 1, Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3 from 4 pm to midnight and for Monday, August 4 from noon to 4 pm;
- A Homecoming beer garden hosted by the Rotary Club in the parking lot adjacent to Grizzly Plaza on Friday, August 15& Saturday, August 16 from 6 pm to midnight; and
- A beer garden hosted by Revelstoke Canine Search & Rescue in Centennial Park on Saturday, August 16 from noon to 6 pm.
All licensees are subject to the following conditions:
- Provision of $ 3,000.000 liability insurance with the City of Revelstoke named as additional insured;
- Security plans approved by the RCMP;
- A Designated Driver Program in place;
- Proof of Serving it Right Certification by the event organizer;
- Fencing around beer garden area; and
- All other forms and approval as required by the Liquor Commission of BC must be in place
Please click here to read the full document.
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Council approves Revelstoke’s audited Financial Statement
City Council voted Tuesday, May 13, to approved the municipality’s financial statements.
The statement, audited by BDO Dunwoody, shows that — among other things — Revelstoke has assets of $19,182,803 and liabilities of $29,680,121.
Please click here to read the full document.
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MP David Wilks backs the provincial Caribou Recovery Plan — not the federal one
In a letter written on April 7 to Environment Minister Leona Aglukkag, MP David Wilks urges her to back the provincial strategy for helping mountain caribou populations recover — not the federal plan.
The federal plan would heavily restrict all activity in the back country hampering the ability of long-standing industrial and recreational users to pursue their goals.
“The restrictive nature… leaves no room for industry or recreation to move,” the Conservative MP for Kootenay Columbia wrote to the minister in a detailed five-page letter. “This on top of a required assessment by companies to ensure there is minimum impact to critical habitat, which includes a 500-metre buffer of the human-caused disturbance. Furthermore there have been no proven results in the closed areas as they exist today.
“If this strategy is brought into force, it will have significant impact in my riding. Whether it is Downie Timber, Gorman Brothers or Canoe Brand in the forestry Sector, the heli-ski industry Canadian Mountain Heli-Skiing or the snowmobiling in the Revelstoke area . This will affect 100s of jobs for an animal that at best is struggling and in all likelihood in certain areas will not be able to survive.
“There is a simple solution and that is to mirror the plan implemented by the Province of British Columbia. The affected businesses have been making headway with the Provincial Government to build a successful management plan that will meet the needs of both the Federal and Provincial Caribou recovery plan.”
Please click here to read MP David Wilk’s letter to the minister.
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Ombudsperson closes anti-gravel pit file
The office of the provincial ombudsperson has closed its file on a complaint about the way the City handled the expansion of a gravel pit on Westside Road.
In an April 14 letter to CAO Tim Palmer, Raheel Humayun wrote:
“A person complained that the City of Revelstoke had improperly supported the implementation and expansion of a gravel pit in proximity to his home. The City supported the 2003 expansion of the gravel pit, following a number of public information meetings that were held. The complainant was concerned that in 2008, the City supported the further expansion of this same pit and had not consulted with the public in the same manner.
“We investigated whether the City followed a reasonable procedure in supporting the expansion of the gravel pit.
“Because the procedure the City followed in supporting the application to expand the gravel pit was not unreasonable we determined that further investigation was not necessary in order to consider the complaint.
“We closed our file (11-109992 /001).”
Please click here to read the document.
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Landslide coming down the mountain above Bridge Creek
Retired Parks Canada employee Alan Polster is warning the City about a landslide forming above Bridge Creek.
In a letter to City Council, Alan said:
“For 11 years, before I retired from Parks Canada, I worked with the Geologic Survey of Canada to monitor and reduce the risk from a large landslide on the East side of Glacier National Park. During my time with Parks, I was able to co-author a paper on the Eastgate Landslide that was presented at the ninth International Symposium on Landslides in Rio de Janeiro, in 2004. (http://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/starweb/geoscan/servlet.starweb?path=geoscan/fulle.web&search1=R=215395)
“After many years of the Trans-Canada Highway (being) blocked by landslide debris, a large catchment basin was built above the highway to protect the traveling public and prevent highway closures.
“Several years ago, I noticed a ‘new’ landslide on the south-facing side of Mount Revelstoke near Bridge Creek. The new slide had started near the Mount Revelstoke Auto-Road about 100 meters East of Bridge Creek. The slide ran several thousand meters down the slope, stopping about 1 kilometer from the Trans Canada Highway. See attached Google Earth image.
“A cursory look at the slope in the image would seem to indicate that the whole area around Bridge Creek and the Mount Revelstoke Auto-road is a large, ancient landslide. I think that it would be well worth while to do a more in-depth and detailed evaluation of the area for the safety of Revelstoke and the public using the TCH. There are a number of geo-tech engineering firms in the area who could do the work, or the City may be able to call on the Province to provide the expert advice needed to make decisions on land use below the slide area.”
Council decided to forward Alan’s letter to Parks Canada as the landslide is currently within the jurisdiction of Mount Revelstoke National Park.
Please click here to read Alan Polster’s letter.
Please click here to see the photo as a large-scale PDF.
