The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George’s board of directors left their usual meeting place on George Street in downtown Prince George on Thursday, June 19 to gather at the Mackenzie Recreation Centre.
Here’s a recap of some of the items discussed and decisions made at that meeting.
Walkway work
Directors approved a budget increase from $8,000 to $70,000 for the replacement of the front walkway at the regional district’s building at 155 George St. in Prince George. A report from district staff said the walkway is original to the building and has suffered significant cracking and lifting over the years.
Recycling improvements
An open bidding process was approved for recycling infrastructure improvements at transfer stations in Mackenzie and Valemount. Last year, the regional district entered into an agreement with Recycle BC to establish recycling depots in those communities as well as the Quinn Street Regional Recycling Depot in Prince George.
Arts, culture and heritage grants
The board approved $50,196.18 worth of arts, culture and heritage grants stemming from recommendations made at a May committee meeting.
The grants include:
- $9,921 for flooring upgrades for the Mackenzie Community Arts Council’s new building
- $8,000 to the Dunster Fine Arts School Society to support a youth film camp
- $7,500 for the Exploration Place for additions to its science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) gallery
- $6,000 for the Method Dance Society’s Community Moves Festival
- $5,000 for Wishbone Theatre to put on performances of the play Mourning After
- $4,000 for new sheet music and equipment for the Prince George Community Band
- $2,500 for the Fraser Lyric Opera Society’s summer camp for kids
- $2,275.18 so Theatre Northwest can install a feminine hygiene product dispenser and baby diaper changing station
- $2,000 for the Northern BC Queer Connection Society to put on a pride picnic event
The board also approved recommended changes to the Select Committee on Arts, Culture and Heritage Grants’ terms of reference. This reduces future appointees’ terms to three instead of four years and removes the listing of specific board members from the terms of reference so they don’t have to be updated when new members are appointed.
Beaverly Fire Rescue
The volunteer fire department had $25,000 in funding for new windows and another $25,000 in funding for the Beaverly Fire Hall approved from the Community Works Fund.
Building permits
As of the end of May, 33 building permits worth $8,462,000 had been issued so far this year by the regional district. That’s down from 42 permits worth $13,816,000 at the same point in time last year.
911 calls
The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George’s 911 call service area, which also includes the regional districts of Kitimat-Stikine, Bulkley-Nechako and Cariboo, received 3,897 police-related calls, 550 fire-related calls, 2,892 ambulance calls and 1,649 abandoned calls this May.
Grants
- In Electoral Area A (Salmon River-Lakes), a total of $9,500 in grants was approved for the Ness Lake Recreation Commission. $9,000 is for the commission’s water treatment system and $500 is for a Mother’s Day event
- In Electoral Area C (Chilako River-Nechako), a grant worth $1,186 for the Miworth Community Association’s Miworth Days event on Sept. 13 was awarded
- In Electoral Area F (Willow River-Upper Fraser Valley), $7,200 worth of grants were disbursed. $3,200 was for operating expenses for the Eastline Market and $4,000 was for cabin restoration work for the Prince George Snowmobile Club
- In Electoral Area H (Robson Valley-Canoe), $12,000 worth of grants were approved. That includes $5,000 for insurance fees for the Dunster Community Association, $2,500 for event insurance for McBride Elks/Royal Purple and $5,000 for outdoor equipment for Youth for Christ
Agricultural co-ordinator
Attached to the meeting agenda was a letter to the regional district from the Northern Development Initiative Trust announcing that the latter’s board had approved $201,750 in funding over three years to find an agricultural co-ordinator position for the regional district.
The board has 12 months from the June 5 acceptance date to sign a funding agreement and start the project.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 17 at the regional district’s offices at 155 George St. in Prince George.
