An avalanche of phone calls last winter from people unhappy that their driveways had been plowed in almost overwhelmed District of Clearwater.

With the weather turning cool again, the town council decided last Tuesday to advertise for contractors who provide snow removal to members of the public (at their own cost). A list of the contractors’ names, plus emergency phone numbers and Argo Road Maintenance’s snow plowing priority schedule will be posted on the district’s website.

Board of Variance needed

District of Clearwater needs to establish a Board of Variance, according to corporate officer Leslie Groulx.

In a report to council about a recent forum for municipal clerks and corporate officers she attended, Groulx said having a board is needed to consider requests for minor variances to avoid undue hardship due to zoning bylaws.

The size of the board would depend on population and Clearwater board of variance would need to have three members.

Members would serve for three years and would not be paid.

All decisions would be made in public.

Variances that the board could hear would include zoning requirements and subdivision servicing requirements.

A variance must not result in inappropriate development, adversely affect the natural

environment or substantially affect the use or enjoyment of adjoining land. A variance cannot vary use of density and/or defeat the intent of the zoning bylaw.

Water manual in the works

Council decided to award a contract for up to $17,000 to a Kamloops consulting company to develop an operating and maintenance manual for the District’s water system.

Chief administrative officer Isabell Hadford noted that Interior Health Authority has added conditions to Clearwater’s water system operating permit and that the district must comply.

Clearwater at the Olympics

Council accepted an invitation from the City of Richmond to participate at an official live celebration site of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. If selected, Clearwater would be one of a dozen B.C. municipalities to showcase their communities in the Richmond O Zone.

At 60 acres, the O Zone will be the largest 2010 Games celebration site and is expected to receive 15,000 visitors per day.

Cost for a 20’ x 10’ space would be $2,500. However, councilor Ken Kjenstad estimated it would cost at least $1,000 per day to keep a person in the Lower Mainland at that time.

Staff had recommended partnering with all the North Thompson Valley but council decided to look into going with just Tourism Wells Gray and Wells Gray Country (Area A).