Keremeos Village Council heard an opinion from White Kennedy Chartered Accountants on the village’s financial statements at the May 6 regular meeting of council.
The scrutiny of the village’s books by an independent auditor is an annual occurance, and as has been the case in past years, the village’s financial statements for 2013 were found to be a fair representation of the village’s financial situation.
The upcoming Keremeos Elks rodeo necessitated several requests to council at the May 6 meeting.
A request by the Elks for an $800 grant for Ladies Barrel Racing prize money was made. Council agreed, taking the money from the council contingency fund. The amount is similar to that requested and granted last year.
Keremeos Elks also requested use of village barricades and cones to allow for a traffic detour during the Elks Rodeo Parade on Monday, May 20. Council agreed to the request, also asking the rodeo committee to contact the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for road closure approval, with an addititonal request to contact local emergency organizations to inform them of the road closure.
Council also authorized Keremeos Community Church to erect a tent in Memorial Park for a Sunday “Cowboy Church” service on May 19.
Council authorized the following proclamations at the May 6 meeting:
- May is Missing Children’s Month, May 25 is Missing Children’s Day in Keremeos.
- May 8 was proclaimed as Red Cross Day in Keremeos
Council received a form-like letter from the British Columbia Utilities Commission in response to a request for changes in Fortis’ two tiered billing rate.
Staff Reports
Costs of the failed reservoir referendum were presented to council in a summary report regarding the vote.
Voter turnout was low (27.81 per cent), lower than similar referendums held in Summerland, Peachland and Oliver in past years. All three of those referendums had turnouts in excess of 40 per cent.
The Village of Keremeos has been working with the Union of BC Municipalities to relinquish the $300,000 funding grant offfered by the regional district for the project.
The cost of the referendum was broken down as follows:
Staffing $3,390
Advertising $600
Ballots $273.77
Supplies $374.32
Staff Meals $159.62
Total cost of the referendum was billed at $4,797.91.
Total number of ballots cast was 650, of which 156 were in favour and 174 against. Three ballots were rejected, one was spoiled and 316 unused ballots were left over.
Public Works
Public Works staff are upgrading their wastewater certification.
Unplanned projects coming to council’s attention include:
- a request to have water service to Crows Nest Bakery upgraded from a 3/4 inch service at an estimated cost of $5,000.
- Water service lines for domestic and business consumption is suspected to be deteriorating to a point where there is a risk of a washout. Since the village is no longer capable of supplying today’s required water volume to business properties, engineers have been engaged to prepare cost estimates for design and replacement of the water mains.
- Two requests have been received to extend cement barricades east of existing barricades along Second Avenue from Bypass Road, at a cost of $3,500 installed.
- It is recommended that an old well in the downtown core be decommissioned and sealed off to prevent contamination of the aquifer.
Capital Project Updates
- Construction drawings awaited from engineers for Memorial Park washroom upgrades.
- Victory Hall washroom design completed, awaiting grant approval.
- Village office upgrades to date include new offices for CAO and CFO as well as access controls and alarm upgrades.
- No major work planned for roads within village limits this year.
- Upper bench sewer extension awaiting final design from engineers.