Council asks Interior Health to disclose investigation results on emergency room closure to public
City of Williams Lake Council is still searching for answers from Interior Health as to why an unexpected and unplanned emergency room closure took place earlier this month at Cariboo Memorial Hospital.
At its Tuesday, October 24 Regular Meeting, Council ratified a poll of council authorizing a letter on behalf of Council be sent to formally express concern about the closure and to request a meeting with IH that includes the City, Cariboo Regional District, local First Nations and local MLA. Council also requested the CEO of IH to publicly release its own internal investigation results regarding the Williams Lake emergency department closure, to remove names from its results and to provide key recommendations for public transparency, community engagement and consultation and committing to a communications protocol.
Council said releasing the results would help instill confidence in the community an unexpected closure will not happen again.
Request for reconsideration of remedial action ordered deferred
Council deferred a request for the reconsideration of a remedial action order at 84 Oliver St., the former Diamonds and Dust property, for two more weeks to facilitate a meeting between the City and property owners.
The remedial action order was originally placed on the property to address safety concerns stemming from an open excavation on the property originally resulting from a fire in 2019, which caused the total loss of the building and neighbouring building.
Tender awarded to drill and develop new production well
Council awarded a contract for the drilling and development of a new production Well No. 6 to Drillwell Enterprises for the price of $330,513,75, including taxes.
The new well will replace Well No. 3, which is at the end of its production life.
The award of the project allows the first stage of drilling and development of the new well to begin in the spring of 2024 with the goal of having an in service well by the summer of 2024.
Council approves Poppy Campaign and Winter Lights Parade route in downtown Williams Lake
Council approved the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 139 Poppy Campaign sale days from October 27 to November 11, 2023 and the annual Remembrance Day ceremony to be held at the City Hall Cenotaph on November 11. The Legion Flag will also be displayed on the City’s flag pole for the week of November 7 to 11.
Council also approved a Downtown Williams Lake BIA request for the Winter Lights Parade at 5 pm on Saturday, December 2 to take place in downtown Williams Lake, as well as to encourage the community to attend.
Council approves grant application to help develop Active Transportation Plan
Council approved a BC Active Transportation Network Planning grant application for the completion of an Active Transportation Network Plan (ATNP).
The total project cost is estimated to be $100,000 of which $50,000 will be contributed from the City’s Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) funds held in reserve. Council also confirmed improving access to and education on active transportation is a municipal priority.
At the meeting, Council directed staff to proceed with the creation of a standalone ATNP while Official Community Plan updates are underway and to update and create other planning documents at a later date.
Travel expense approved for Lhatŝ ’aŝ ʔin Memorial Day event
Council approved travel, compensation and other associated expenses for available Council members to attend the Lhatŝ ’aŝ ʔin Memorial Day event hosted by the Tŝilhqot’in National Government in Quesnel on October 26, 2023.
The event, and October 26, marks the day five of the six Tŝilhqot’in war chiefs were wrongfully tried and hanged in Quesnel during the Chilcotin War of 1864.
Development Variance Permit Application approved
Council approved a development variance permit for Monster Industries on behalf of Inland Diesel Ltd. (First Truck Centre) to reduce the exterior lot line setback for accessory buildings and structures for the construction of a proposed storage shed on the property at 4600 Collier Place.
Mayor to attend BC Natural Resources Forum
Council approved compensation, registration and other associated expenses for Mayor Surinderpal Rathor or an alternate to attend the BC Natural Resources Forum held from January 16-18, 2024 in Prince George.
Grant application amended for FireSmart community funding
Council amended a grant application by changing the originally applied for grant funding amount from $200,000 to the approved grant of $295,270 for the 2022 Community Resiliency Investment Program - 2023 FireSmart Community Funding &Supports Program (Stream 1) through the Union of BC Municipalities.
The funding will be used by the City to prescribe fuel treatments on City-owned land and to undertake fuel treatment in high-priority areas within the City.