In the 2023 budget, council approved $8.2 million in special projects.
This included funding for a wide range of projects, from updating the District’s Zoning Bylaws to new chairs for Council Chamber to replacing SCBA equipment for the fire department to fixing the road down to the Golf Course.
All together, there were 60 special projects on the books for 2023.
Of those, 29 have been completed.
Completed projects include replacing the SCBA equipment, updating the sound system in council chambers, purchasing a new Wildland Fire vehicle, removing the old staircase at the Roman walkway, and replacing the water line out to Monkman RV.
Of the remaining 31, nine are actively in progress, another nine are on hold and 13 are expected to wrap up sometime in 2024.
Projects on hold include looking at high speed internet, something that has been on the books since 2022. In that time, the issue has partially sorted itself out, with the addition of Starlink and Red Creek to the town’s high speed options.
Also on hold is a push to develop rural residential properties out by the saddle club. “There is a Land Sale Reserve Fund which can be used for this purchase,” explains Chief Financial Officer Natalie Wehner. “Purchase of land is complete, completing transfer which is delayed due to cumulative effects on First Nations and the Community Forest License Amendment which is on hold. Once the CF License Amendment is approved it will remove this area from the Community Forest. Once approved, initial subdivision development will commence.”
One of the major projects being held until next year are the long-awaited improvements to the golf course road. “The Golf Course Road was established when the Golf Course was built next to the Districts Right of Way for our sanitary line,” says Wehner. “This road was never part of the Right of Way and was situated on Crown Land. This road was never built to a proper specification and over the years has required significant maintenance to ensure safe travel.”
In 2019, the District took ownership of the road access and is now able to install a proper roadway. This would entail a proper base standard and a proper width that would give the District a safe access to the Golf Course and years of low maintenance requirements.”
Also expected to be done next year is work around Flatbed Campground. This is still work remaining from when Flatbed flooded and washed out a few years’ back.
Also expected to be done next year is work around Flatbed Campground. This is still work remaining from when Flatbed flooded and washed out a few years’ back.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
