CRD Board Highlights - August 26th Meeting

From the Cariboo Regional District:

CCRHD Authorizes Capital Funds for NH

The Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District (CCRHD) approved in principle $337,200 of Capital Funds for four projects initiated by Northern Health (NH). The total cost for all four projects is $843,000 and the requested contribution from the CCRHD is $337,200. NH submitted the request to the CCCRHD for 40 percent of the costs to undertake four major equipment and building integrity projects in Quesnel. At the GR Baker Memorial Hospital, the funds will be used to purchase a diagnostic imaging – ultrasound machine and a medical air system. Funds will also be used to develop Anesthetic Unit 2. The remaining funds will be allocated to the purchase of a proximity card security system for Dunrovin Park Lodge. Further information can be found online at http://www.northernhealth.ca

Spanish Gold

Brian Groves, President and Chief Executive Officer and Marissa Nobauer, Community Engagement representative from Spanish Mountain Gold provided the Regional District Board with information about the Spanish Mountain Gold project. The project is located about 6 kilometres from Likely, in the central Cariboo and has potential as a bulk mineable, large tonnage, sediment hosted gold deposit. At the beginning of August, Spanish Mountain announced it has been accepted by both the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. The acceptance of the Project Description means the project has now entered the “Pre-Application‟ phase of the Environmental Assessment and Permitting process. It is expected that public meetings will be scheduled soon. Further updates and information about Spanish Mountain is available online at http://www.spanishmountaingold.com

Lac La Hache Elementary new home for CRD Library

The CRD Board of Directors endorsed a proposed agreement between School District #27 and the Cariboo Regional District for the location of the Lac La Hache Community Library within the Lac La Hache Elementary School. The CRD will also be undertaking a number of renovations to ensure the provision of a wheelchair accessible public washroom and installation of a wheelchair access ramp at the school’s north entrance/exit. Based on the estimates received by the School District, these renovations will cost approximately $8,025 plus taxes.

Rick Hansen Relay Route Communities in the CRD

The Cariboo Regional District has been informed that it has had a number of communities selected under the Route Communities with Medal-Bearer Mode and Route Communities with Endurance Mode as part of next year’s Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay.

Cariboo Route Communities - Medal-Bearer Mode

March 25th - Kersley
March 27th - Lac La Hache
March 27th - 108 Mile Ranch

Cariboo Route Communities - Endurance Mode

March 25th - McLeese Lake
March 27th - 150 Mile House

Opportunity Funds Approved

The Cariboo Regional District Board gave authorization for two electoral area requests to access Opportunity Funds for their communities. In Electoral Area F, $2000 of Opportunity Funds will be used by the Cedar Point Park Board to remediate the flood damage to the park’s ball diamond and campground caused by this spring’s flooding of Cedar Creek. The Board also endorsed a total of $4,000 of the Electoral Area E Opportunity Funds to assist the Chimney and Felker Lakes Landholders’ Association in its process to obtain certification of their local volunteer fire department.

Carbon Neutrality

The Cariboo Regional District received information regarding an updated option to help local governments meet the commitment contained in the Climate Action Charter to continue to work towards achieving carbon neutrality. This new option, “Making Progress Towards Carbon Neutrality” will require demonstrating that progress is being made through measuring, reducing and reporting on corporate emissions. Local governments can reduce emissions and purchase carbon offsets to become carbon neutral if they choose, but this will not be mandatory for the year 2012. The CRD will continue to research methods to reduce corporate emissions and refine our corporate emissions inventory.

Next Board Meeting

Thursday, September 15 – Policy Session
Friday, September 16 – Board Meeting