by John Boivin
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Valley Voice
Work on a 10-unit affordable housing project in downtown Kaslo has begun. The Kaslo Housing Society was given approval to begin construction after completing a land transaction with the Village that was approved at a January in-camera council meeting.
“They’re moving forward aggressively on that. The shovels will be in the ground Feb. 1,” CAO Ian Dunlop told council at its Jan. 25 meeting.
The building will be constructed on an empty lot formerly owned by the Village next to the historic Kemball building.
WildSafeBC program to continue
The Village of Kaslo is going to continue to participate in the WildSafeBC program to reduce wildlife encounters with people in the community.
Councillors approved $2,000 towards the salary of a WildSafeBC co-ordinator for the summer. This will help the community in its drive towards becoming a ‘Bear Smart’ community, a staff report noted. The RDCK will also put up $3,000 for the position, which begins in mid-May.
Council voted in favour of the project, though not without opposition.
“It’s a waste of money,” muttered Councillor Henry Van Mill as he had his lone vote recorded against the spending.
Capital projects pending
Funding applications for several capital projects are being massaged to improve the Village’s chances of getting funding.
The long-delayed Kaslo River Dike and Bank project is being revised to “fit available funding,” according to Dunlop. When it’s ready, the project will go to provincial funding agencies for another review.
The Village has also been given a bit more time to apply for a grant to upgrade the community water treatment plant’s ultraviolet filtration system. The application period for the project was extended to the end of February by the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
Dunlop said they would use the time to go over their application with a consultant to have the best chance of securing the money they are looking for. He’ll then bring the project before council for approval on Feb. 8. He said they should know by then how much of the $967,000 bill the Village will have to cover.
A second major infrastructure project, the rebuild of the A Avenue waterline, was also to come before council at the Feb. 8 meeting for approval. Construction plans are being finalized and they should be going to tender in February.
The Village will use water reserve funds for both the water treatment plant and A Ave replacement projects.
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