Fruitvale council voiced its concerns over a proposal that restricts motorized access in the Pend D'Oreille at Monday night's council meeting.
Coun. Steve Morissette put a motion on the table to make it publicly clear that the village doesn't support the Access Management Area (AMA) plan until full public consultation has been undertaken, and a study is done on the impacts of wildlife and potential limitations to recreational users.
Council voted unanimously in favour of his motion.
“I think everybody has to have their voice heard and work together on a solution that accommodates the wildlife and the people that want to enjoy the outdoors,” he said.
Coun. James Ellison shed light on a recent stakeholders meeting where representatives from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource outlined suggested road closures on a map.
“This is a big issue, and we need to get in front of it,” said Ellison, noting that the land is a major attractant and locals and visitors frequenting it often support Fruitvale's downtown business en route.
An AMA is considered an area of land that has its access regulated. The area is closed to motorized vehicles (walking and horses still allowed) with specific roads left open.
Village set to clear downtown sidewalks this winter
Snow season is just around the corner, and the village is planning for a clean, safe downtown.
Fruitvale is notifying businesses that it will be taking care of the major snow removal on village sidewalks.
Council is backing the pilot project that is estimated to cost an extra $3,000 to the snow clearing budget; it was decided at Monday night’s regular council meeting.
New Beaver Valley seniors' gym buzzing with regular users
Seniors are taking advantage of a new free workout facility in the basement of the Fruitvale Memorial Centre.
Beaver Valley residents who identify as seniors or "middlers" are lining up to grab a swipe card, according to chief administrative officer Lila Cresswell.
The village office has issued 243 passes for 279 people, with some choosing to share one with their partner, she noted at Monday night's regular council meeting.
Council is discussing the possibility of getting local seniors trained in assisting other users on the workout equipment, which includes a rowing machine, a couple of treadmills, ellipticals, and a stationary bike.
In the meantime, the village would like to schedule the second “workout with your doc” after a successful run a few weeks back. Beaver Valley Clinic was on board with heart monitoring and blood pressure checks during the interactive activity, which also included physiotherapist Kirby Epp of Valhalla Physiotherapy showing seniors how to properly lift weights.
The Gym went from idea to reality when the village received a $25,000 seniors' grant from the government this spring and was backed by other local contributors.
RDKB directors ready to connect via video
Fruitvale Mayor Patricia Cecchini traveled to Grand Forks four times last month to sit in on regional discussion.
The one-hour meeting met with a long drive on both ends will halt come next year when the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary board of directors starts its video conferencing pilot project.
Come January, officials on this end of the region will meet in Trail and connect to those closer to the Grand Forks area via video conference.
“Sometimes you're there for an hour meeting, so you're driving all the way there for an hour and driving all the way back,” she told village council Monday night.
“With the winter roads, it's crazy.”