Sustainability Commission funding in flames as museum budget nearly doubles for 2013
Funding to community groups was cut by four per cent (about $14,000) relative to 2012 levels overall at Wednesday evening's committee of the whole (COW), with the Sustainability Commission taking the main hit as funding for the SC manager disappeared—ostensibly to bring the role "in house" to the city—while the city granted...
Swathes of community support scythed in the 2013 budget
The Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Rossland, the Rossland Pool Society , and the Neighbourhoods of Learning committee were all cut by five per cent relative to 2012 funding during council’s Wednesday evening committee-of-the-whole (COW), for a total expenditure of $107,540—about $5660 less than 2012. Please note: all council ...
Star Gulch swimming hole dream deferred to 2014 or beyond
Facing hard budgetary constraints, council decided at Wednesday evening's committee-of-the-whole (COW) to defer a study on the potential conversion of the Star Gulch Reservoir beside Centennial Trail into a community swimming hole until at least 2014. With the massive increase in the city's water supply afforded by the...
Neighbourhoods of Learning Committee faces an imminent end to city funds
Council will maintain funding to the Neighbourhoods of Learning Committee (NOL) for 2013, but that may be it for city funds as the municipality faces budget constraints and council begins to reconsider its educational role in a post-K-12 Rossland. Coun. Jill Spearn, an elementary school teacher and council's representative ...
Community groups take the hit after millions in Columbia-Washington overruns
CAO Cecile Arnott confirmed to council at Wednesday's committee-of-the-whole (COW) that the Columbia-Washington upgrades have cost the city on the order of $6 million, about $1.4 million more than was originally budgeted. The final project cost is still under dispute as negotiations with the contractor continue. On top of...
Council to hear March crime reduction report
At its regular meeting Monday, Castlegar City Council will be receiving its monthly Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) report for the month of March. In said report, CRU commanding officer Cpl. Darryl Orr outlines some of the Castlegar CRU’s accomplishments for the month (except those that create privacy issues in terms of reporting). March 1: “An […]
Know where to vote in this month's provincial election
Knowing where to vote can be confusing, and election day draws nigh, so District Electoral Officer Don Vinish gave us a clear list of where you can vote, in advance or on election day, in the West Kootenay District. First, Vinish says you can vote anywhere in the province, as well as anywhere within the […]
COMMENT: Kumar Sues City
Victor Kumar, former CAO for the City of Rossland, is suing the City in Small Claims Court. Can you believe the audacity? After some of the things he did while employed as the CAO and the mess he left behind that will likely take years to correct--now this! In a Notice of Claim filed in the Rossland Court House on April 9,...
Who Really Owns City Hall? 8: Legitimizing democracy
The topics explored and debated in the preceding seven Who Really Owns City Hall columns were not concerned with the powers and responsibilities delegated by the Yukon’s Legislative Assembly to communities under section 18(1)(e) of the Yukon Act. Some provinces have delegated more and different responsibilities to their...
Nanaimo cuts place patients at risk says BCNU
Nurses on Vancouver Island are demanding an immediate halt to a plan to cut nurses at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital because it puts patients’ safety at risk. The Vancouver Island Health Authority scheme would eliminate a total of 26 nurses – both Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses – from teams providing bedside care […]
