Briefs

Proposed Skate Park

Jason Barr of the Fort St. James Bike and Skateboard Association was at Council to propose a location for the Skateboard Park.

Barr suggested developing the old Chevron location for the Skateboard Park. Barr suggested that it would be a good location if you want to curb unwanted behaviour, and that the District could work with the Downtown Revitalization. He said it would work perfectly as it doesn’t have to look like a traditional skatepark.

“I wanted to make it official that the club would like that as a location,” Barr said. “The first location (suggested) was Goodwin Park. Every neighbour (whose land) backs on to Goodwin Park had concerns. We are trying to make the residents understand that it is not as bad as it can seem.”

Barr said that the location right downtown would have more room and it would be more visible in order to curb any unwanted behaviour.

Barr asked Council for direction in sending a letter to Chevron in regards to the land. Mayor Sandra Harwood said that Council may be able to spin it that it might be good for Chevron to donate the land back to town.

One Sky – The Canadian

Institute for Sustainable Living

One Sky Executive Director Michael Simpson and Godwin Ugah, Program Director for the Council for Renewable Energy in Nigeria (CREN), were in at Council to discuss the Energetic Olympics and sustainable living.

Fort St. James was one of 16 communities that participated in One Sky’s Energetic Olympics Competition. The delegation are visiting each participating community to share the results of the Olympics. It was a very informative presentation.

Simpson shared spoke of the importance of global energy equality.

The idea of peak oil and what that means for our community as well as communities around the world and how we are all connected was a big part of the presentation.

Ugah shared how if we burn oil to quickly here it changes the price of oil globally. There is a civil war in Nigeria, and if the unrest increases it causes the price of oil to rise here. Ugah said we are impacting each other. If Dawson Creek reduces their energy footprint it helps the people in Nigeria.

Ugah said that gas flairing in Nigeria is a major cause emissions. He said that Nigeria produces 2.4 million barrels a day. Nigeria consumes 275,000 barrels a day. Canada produces 3.35 million barrels a day and consumes 2.3 million barrels.

When Fort St. James saves energy it puts less pressure on the global energy supply. Less pressure gives Africa more time to move toward sustainable energy. CREN is working on a transition towards clean energy.

Tl’azt’en Ice Time

Tl’azt’en Executive Director Gregg Drury shared how his time at Tl’azt’en has been an eye opener.

“It struck me with winter coming there was a desire for people to play hockey,” he said.

Drury said that he understood there may be arena time available. The desire is to run a bus of kids there in the winter.

“There is much passion in the community for hockey,” he said.

There was a desire to do this last year but it fell through as Drury said he didn’t’ have time to do it.

Drury said he was asking for a possible Grant in Aid. He said that Tl’azt’en delivered 40 loads of firewood to Elders. That wood has to be stacked and split. Drury told the kids that if they want something they have to be prepared to give something back.

Drury said that he believes that recreation for the youth is good. There are issues, but doing something positive will help them out.

Drury said that every kid should have skates.

“I want to ask if there is anyway that we can do something so it isn’t just young men who want to play hockey, but we can do something with the young kids as well,” he said.

The mayor said that an answer couldn’t be given until the first week of November.

Stuart Lake Seniors

The Stuart Lake Seniors Association gave written notice that they intended to sell their building at Five Corners to the District of Fort St. James for $1. The land the Senior Centre sits on is already owned by the District.

The District was under the impression that both the land and the building were owned by the District, however, the Seniors Association has documents showing that they purchased the building and moved it to the current location. This agreement formalizes what Land Titles, the District, and BC Assessment has already assumed.

Recommendation was for Council to authorize the Mayor and CAO Nigel Black to execute the Contract for Purchase and Sale between the District of Fort St. James and the Stuart Lake Seniors Association and the building for the building known as the “Seniors Recreation Centre” for a purchase prize of $1. It was also recommended that Mayor and Council execute the Lease Agreement between the District of Fort St. James and the Stuart Lake Seniors Association for a period of 10 years at a rental cost of $1 per year.

The recommendation passed unanimously.

Stones Bay Speed Bump

Works Superintendant Dennis Saharchuck spoke on the bump located on Stones Bay Road close to the Resort Hill turnoff. He said that the crew wanted to give it a good patch but that they overestimated the movement of the asphalt. There was an old culvert located there, and the asphalt was expected to move. The availability of hot mix is uncertain, but Saharchuck said that they are looking at doing something to help the issue before the snow flies.

Fort St. James Humane

Society Nechako Animal Shelter

Chief Executive Director of the Fort St. James Humane Society, Angela McLaren, sent a letter to Council in regards to their desire to build a Animal Shelter at the Fall Fair Grounds.

The Society is currently taking in over 30 animals a month and they are currently being held in foster homes.

The Society is selling bricks in order to pay for the animal shelter. Council was asked to consider supporting the Society through the purchase of bricks. Mayor Harwood said that the Society has proven that it is a worthwhile cause. The Mayor suggested that the District should buy 100 bricks to show that Council supports the Humane Society. Council agreed to purchase 100 bricks for $1,500.

Smelly Lagoon

There have been numerous complaints about the smell of the lagoon. The Works Superintendent is going to look into the compounds used, but stated that engineers think the plant is as good as it can get.

There is a company that can customize what is put into the lagoon to help lower the smell. Some of the upgrades were for efficiency and capacity.

The plant has been upgraded to where it is efficient, but the odor control has gone negative. There are a lot of variables that the District has to look at in order to see if they can correct the problem.

Public Works is going to continue to investigate the problem in order to find solutions.