by John Boivin
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Valley Voice
The Kaslo golf club wants to remove more than two dozen potentially hazardous trees on the public facility.
An inspection last year found about 16 trees on the course were dead or dying, and presented a hazard great enough they should be removed. Another seven trees were in need of pruning or monitoring, but were not considered an immediate danger.
“In addition, we would like to remove an additional 10 trees adjacent to shop and cart sheds,” says Bryan MacMillan, a club director, in an email to council. He says with the strong winds of late, they are concerned about these sheds, and would like to talk to the Village about removing the trees with the Village boom truck.
Corporate officer Catherine Allaway, during the March 22 council meeting, said the removal of danger trees is straightforward, and can be done without public consultation. However, trees that aren’t immediate hazards need to be removed according to the tree policy. Property owners within 60 metres of the trees slated for removal are given written notice 30 days before the work is scheduled to take place.
The golf course will be paying for the tree removal, as it has in the past.
Council approved the immediate removal of the hazard trees, and staff asked for time to prepare the documents for the non-hazard trees to be removed. The issue will be brought back to council’s May meeting.
Nice ice
The Kaslo and District Arena is going to have much more reliable ice-making machinery after some upgrades are completed this year. Council approved spending about $66,000 on a condenser and two compressor replacements, as well as a new humidifier and switch and electrical upgrades. And some prudent savings means it won’t hit the budget hard.
“We have a very healthy arena reserve fund… about $280,000 altogether, so spending $66,000 on some additional upgrades at this time would actually not be too hard on the budget,” said chief administrative officer Ian Dunlop. “And it ensures the ice plant can run efficiently for years to come.”
The motion has to be approved by RDCK Area D Director Aimee Watson as well, as the regional government also funds the arena.
Work will not likely start until late summer.
Imperial Oil lease agreement
The town will continue to have the overflow parking lot in behind the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Council approved renewing a three-year lease on the property from Imperial Oil.
The Village has held a licence to use the 1.2-acre parcel since 2012.
“The subject lands are used as overflow parking for visitors to the Village,” said a report to council. “With pandemic-related restrictions lifting, it is anticipated that the number of tourist visits to the community will climb again, particularly during special events, and there will be continued need for additional parking on the Imperial Oil lands to supplement the parking spaces available downtown.”
Councillor Henry Van Mill wondered if anything could be done to improve the lot’s appeal for drivers, but was told it was limited by contaminated soil.
“Unfortunately, there’s not much we can do,” said Dunlop. “Because it’s an environmentally contaminated site, and there’s a test well there, if we do anything to damage the wells or expose anything, we’d be liable.”
He did say they might be able to spread a little gravel, but they can’t disturb the surface.