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Salmon Arm  

Smoke is in the air as Salmon Arm begins issuing permits to allow burning of yard waste

Burn piles allowed for now

The City of Salmon Arm is ready to let residents burn their yard waste — as long as they apply for the proper permit.

Salmon Arm has officially opened incidental burning season. Residents can purchase an incidental burning permit for $10 to allow for the burning of dry yard and garden waste.

Permitted fires are allowed from now until April 15, provided regulations are followed.

To be eligible for an incidental burning permit, residents must have a property which is 0.99 acres or larger. The burn pile must not be larger than one cubic metre.

All fires must be extinguished by 9 p.m., and burn piles must be at least five meters from property lines, structures and standing timber or brush.

Fires must be attended at all times.

Incidental burning permits are only available in person at Salmon Arm City Hall, located at 500 Second Ave. NE.



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Sicamous council denies temporary permit for short-term rental operator

Short-term rental shot down

Sicamous council has said no to a resident looking for a temporary use permit allowing his short term rental to operate in a residential area.

At its regular meeting Wednesday, council looked at an application for a temporary use permit to allow for the operation of a short term rental within an area where zoning does not allow short term rentals to operate.

There was a public hearing held at the meeting as part of the temporary use permit application process.

The property in question is located at 501 Elliot Cres. and the permit was asking for the short term rental to be allowed for a maximum of three years. Staff recommended that the council approve the temporary use permit.

Sarah Kyllo, deputy corporate officer, said the property was operating as a short term rental prior to new regulations coming into effect.

“The short term rental has been in operation prior to regulation and the short term rental income, the owner has let us know is going to be used for his mortgage on the property until he can retire in Sicamous in the next few years,” Kyllo said.

As part of the new regulations, short term rentals in Sicamous require a business licence.

Kelly Spears, the property owner, was in attendance virtually from Alberta and told council he had applied for the business licence.

“I have applied for the business licence,” Spears said. “That process is underway but it's pending what happens with my temporary use permit first.”

He also reiterated that he planned to retire soon to live in Sicamous full time.

“I'm over 60 now and I'm planning on retiring in the next two or three years,” Spears said. “I’ve got some stuff I’ve got to tie up here first. I’ve got a couple jobs I have to finish off … and then I’ll be out there full time.”

A few councillors mentioned a ‘grace period’ council had agreed to in order to allow short term rentals to continue operating outside of correct zoning for a period of time if they showed a willingness to comply with the new regulations.

Kyllo spoke up to clarify what happened with previous temporary use permit applications.

“I think what's important is our preliminary conversation with applicants, bringing their attention to the regulations coming into place and then having that grace period,” Kyllo said.

“I know we had three properties successfully get a temporary use permit and took advantage of that grace period. ... And they had also based their cases on retirement and having a plan in place to remove the short term rental after a certain period of time.”

Setting a precedent

Coun. Siobhan Rich felt this was a fairly straightforward case.

“I feel like this gentleman is trying to make his retirement plan; he's following the rules, he's asked for a permit, he's asked for the TUP, he wants to get a business licence, he's going to be part of the community,” Rich said. “I doubt if he doesn't get the TUP that it's going to go into the long term rental pool.”

“He's not trying to get rich by buying a bunch of short term rentals, he's trying to pay his mortgage and work in Alberta until he can have his retirement in BC to enjoy,” she added.

Coun. Ian Baillie said this was a tough decision for him to make.

“This is a tough one because the short term rental bylaw was put in for a reason, to make sure that we had long term rentals,” Baillie said. “I guess I'm struggling here with, under what circumstances do you permit one to go through but maybe not another?”

“This is clearly in a very residential zone, but I can also see if the neighbours didn't complain there… I mean, I don't know if that's approval.”

Mayor Colleen Anderson said she didn’t want to set a precedent for temporary use permits allowing short term rentals to ignore zoning.

“Well, we did a lot of work on the rezoning and for short term rentals,” Anderson said.

“For me, based on the work that we've done to create these areas, and not set a precedent that everyone that's in a zone that's not zoned for short term rentals can come to council and get a temporary use permit. I am going to not vote in favour of this.”

The motion to grant a temporary use permit was defeated with four councillors opposed.



RV park in Lee Creek fined more than $37K for failing to properly treat wastewater

RV park fined for discharge

An RV park in Lee Creek is facing $37,360 in fines for failing to properly treat wastewater before it was discharged into a disposal field 60 metres from Shuswap Lake.

The director that assessed the penalty said he found Cottonwood Cove RV Resort's reasoning for the contraventions "alarming" and that they "failed to make adequate effort and investment" in their wastewater treatment plant.

The RV park operates an onsite treatment facility that discharges municipal effluent to a raised bed disposal field located 60 metres from Shuswap Lake.

From April of 2021 until October 2022, the Compliance and Environmental Enforcement Branch of the Ministry of Environment found Cottonwood Cove RV Resort to have broken three different municipal wastewater regulations.

The administrative penalty was determined by Jason Bourgeois, a director of the Environmental Management Act.

In his report, it lists 19 times the RV park was found to have failed to notify a director of malfunctions at their wastewater treatment facility, and 31 times they were found to have discharged wastewater that didn’t meet quality requirements.

They were also found to have failed to monitor effluent quality and quantity 75 times.

Cottonwood Cove initially received notice that they would be receiving a determination of administrative penalty on Oct. 5, 2023.

Alarming information

Cottonwood Cove filed an 'Opportunity To Be Heard' written letter, as well as a separate 16-page response prepared by their contractor, Reliable Septic Services, on Nov. 21, 2023.

In the opportunity to be heard, Cottonwood Cove said the nature of seasonal RV parking makes it hard for their facility to properly treat the wastewater.

“Wastewater flows are erratic from the resort,” Cottonwood Cove said. “There is no diurnal flow as the resort receives wastewater from RV trailers.”

“The resort also has residents that hold onto wastewater within the RVs and then dump their wastewater all at once. This is why flow is never the same; in turn, the WWTP (wastewater treatment plant) cannot produce the quality of effluent to always meet Class A guidelines regardless of how the plant is operated.”

The opportunity to be heard also states pipes in their collection system break every year, but due to seasonal flooding they can’t be fixed until the water recedes.

“Since Cottonwood Resort location is right beside the lake, it is often flooded for a temporary period of time,” Cottonwood Cove said. “Each year, there are new pipe breaks in the collection system which only can be repaired when ground water level retreats after lake level decreases.

"These pipe breaks allow massive amounts of groundwater into the collection system and the WWTP has trouble handling the increased flow to meet Class A requirements as the ratio is completely thrown off with little food to support the living biology.”

In the determination of administrative penalty, Bourgeois said he found this information alarming.

“I find that this information provided in the OTBH Response, especially regarding the malfunctioning facility, and the seasonal flooding and sewage pipe breaks that happen every year at the resort, is alarming and further confirms that the contraventions caused the potential for adverse effects on the environment,” Bourgeois said.

In their opportunity to be heard, Cottonwood Cove said they have had disagreements with the contractor that previously operated their wastewater treatment facility, Corix Utilities.

“It is evident that their performance was substandard and I know that this is not the only plant Corix had difficulties in operating as I'm involved with one other," said Cottonwood Cove.

"It is clear in your investigation this plant and others that they have managed have not performed to the standard of the licence certificates they were granted by the province of B.C.”

Bourgeois found this line of argument unpersuasive.

"I have considered Cottonwood Cove’s stated frustrations with Corix. I find that these submissions are not relevant to this Determination, and I give them little weight," he said.

"It is Cottonwood Cove that is registered under the MWR and must always comply with all its requirements."

Failure to make adequate investment

In his determination, Bourgeois said Cottonwood Cove knew their wastewater treatment facility was malfunctioning for several years and failed to address it.

“I find that as early as 2019, Cottonwood Cove knew that the facility, located just 60 metres from Shuswap Lake, was malfunctioning and inadequate to successfully treat wastewater at the Resort and discharge Class A municipal effluent to ground," he said.

“Despite this knowledge, year after year, Cottonwood Cove has marketed the resort as a luxury RV resort with picturesque vacation rentals. Its website indicates that it charges its guests anywhere from $103 to $257 per night to stay at the resort for seven months each year from April to October.”

Cottonwood Cove RV Resort was assessed with a total penalty of $37,360 for the contraventions and have until April 3, to either pay the fine or file an appeal.



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Eagle Bay Fire Hall renovations could get an additional $40K in funding to pay for upgrades

$40K more for fire hall

The Eagle Bay Fire Hall could receive an additional $40,000 to add new bay doors while it undergoes previously scheduled renovations.

There’s a motion on the agenda for the Columbia Shuswap Regional District’s board meeting next week to allocate an additional $40,000 to Eagle Bay Fire Hall renovations with funds from the Area C Community Works Funds.

The motion comes with a staff report from Sean Coubrough, Deputy Regional Fire Chief.

In the report Coubrough said the additional money would be used to purchase and install new energy efficient bay doors.

“The Eagle Bay Fire Hall is budgeted for a number of renovations including new siding and a new larger bay door for the wildland truck,” Coubrough said.

“Staff would like to purchase new energy efficient bay doors for the entire building using Community Works Funds while the project is underway.”

Coubrough pointed out that some of the rural fire halls were built on very tight budgets and small upgrades could prolong their service life.

“Protective Services staff are working to prolong the life of the existing fire department infrastructure through investments in renovations to buildings and energy efficiency upgrades,” Coubrough said.

“These facilities were built cost effectively in their inception and are often not as energy efficient as they could be. ... The materials available today have a significant insulative value and can improve energy efficiency while prolonging the overall life of the facility.”

The motion to add $40,000 in additional funds to Eagle Bay Fire Hall renovations will be voted on in a stakeholder vote Thursday at the CSRD board meeting.



Sicamous committee vows to continue a fight for more funding to stop invasive mussels

Council fights mussel threat

Sicamous council members vowed to continue to fight for funding to stop the spread of invasive mussels after hearing a presentation on B.C.’s invasive mussel defence program.

At the March 13 Sicamous committee of the whole meeting, representatives from the B.C. Ministry of Water, Lands and Resource Stewardship gave a presentation about the province’s efforts to fight the spread of invasive quagga and zebra mussels.

Council thanked representatives for their presentation and praised their hard work to keep invasive mussels from spreading. Some council members also stressed the importance of securing more funding for the program.

Coun. Pam Beech said despite the great work the mussel defence team is doing, she’s still very concerned about the issue.

“I don't like to play negative Nancy and I appreciate every border crossing and checkpoint that we can get,” Beech said.

“But I have to say that we cannot negate the fact that a mussel might get through into one of our 20,000 lakes or one of our 51 river systems because we we don't have enough checkpoints at border crossings to make sure that's not happening.”

She thanked representatives for doing the work.

“I just wanted to stress this is a huge issue, and we all need to really keep pushing and I would encourage the public to inform themselves and start writing letters.”

Mayor Colleen Anderson agreed there aren’t enough mussel inspection checkpoints.

“To Coun. Beech’s point, we don't have enough and they need to be consistent,” Anderson said. “We had folks coming in last summer that drove through the Golden border and there was no one there.”

Anderson said council is committed to securing more funding to ensure the invasive species doesn't spread.

“We will continue to fight for funding, because the government has reduced the funding for this program whereas this program is key to the continued success of B.C.,” Andersons said.

“We are a tourism industry, that's our business. We welcome people from all over the world, quagga and zebra mussels will destroy our beaches and our water systems.”

She also added the fines for not stopping at a checkpoint are too low.

“If you go through border crossing without stopping it's $345 — that’s nothing,” Anderson said, adding travellers skipping these stops should be faced with serious fines.

“If you're caught with quagga or zebra mussels because you're not following ‘clean, drain and dry’ from one body of water to another, the fine for that is not high enough.

“You can throw a potato chip bag out the window and litter and it's $2,000, that's the fine, but here we're going to litter our lakes."

Residents can learn more about the B.C. invasive mussel defence program and the mussel inspection border checkpoints through the program website.



Death of a 23-year-old driver a 'grim reminder' to wear your seatbelt says Salmon Arm RCMP

Death a 'grim reminder'

A 23-year-old has died following a two-vehicle collision and vehicle fire on Highway 97B in Salmon Arm, Wednesday.

The young man was reportedly not wearing a seat belt.

Salmon Arm RCMP say they were advised of a two-vehicle collision at 6:59 a.m. March 13, just south of 10th Ave SE in Salmon Arm. Mounties say on scene was a Toyota Corolla in the northbound ditch and a Ford F150, fully engulfed in flames, parked on the southbound shoulder.

“Witness reports suggested that the Corolla was northbound, swerved into the southbound lane and collided with the F-150 in the southbound lane,” reads a release from the Salmon Arm RCMP.

The F150 is said to have had no time to react — something supported by a collision analyst who examined the scene. Mounties say visibility was “extremely poor” with thick fog blanketing the area.

The 23-year-old male driving the Corolla was not wearing a seatbelt. He was extricated by BC Ambulance with assistance from bystanders and police. The man was resuscitated on scene but later died at hospital.

"Salmon Arm RCMP send their condolences to the 23 year-old driver’s family and friends. Police thank all the by-standers, BC Ambulance, Salmon Arm Fire Dept, and Salmon Arm Rescue Unit, for their assistance. This is a grim reminder to drive to conditions, wear your seatbelt, and focus on the road." Const. Andrew Hodges, Salmon Arm RCMP media liaison, said.

The driver's name is not being released out of respect for the family.

The 49 year-old male driving the F150 exited his vehicle with assistance prior to it catching fire. He was also brought to hospital, but RCMP did not give an update on his condition.



Salmon Arm police seek public assistance locating SUV

Police looking for SUV

Salmon Arm RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance locating a 2022 grey Ford Explorer.

Mounties say the vehicle was seen being occupied by suspects involved in a theft on Vancouver Island.

A release issued but the RCMP says occupants now appear to be targeting Salmon Arm businesses, particularly ones with electronics, cell phones and potentially jewelry.

“The suspects appear to be two males between 30-50 years old, and of middle eastern descent,” reads a release from Cst. Andrew Hodges with Salmon Arm RCMP.

The Ford Explorer is a sport utility vehicle (SUV) and was bearing Quebec licence plate FSH7910.

Police say anyone who sees this vehicle and licence plate should not approach it, and instead call local police and advise of its location. Salmon Arm RCMP can be reached at 250-832-6044.



McCune selected to represent the BC United in Salmon Arm-Shuswap riding for 2024 provincial election

BC United picks new Greg

BC United members in the Salmon Arm-Shuswap riding have chosen a new Greg to carry their banner in the upcoming provincial election.

Members of the party, which was known as the BC Liberals until last year, chose former Enderby mayor Greg McCune at a candidate selection meeting on Saturday.

McCune was competing for the nomination against RDNO director fAlyssa Hopkins and former Salmon Arm-Shuswap riding association president Linda Hawes.

Longtime Salmon Arm-Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo announced he would not be running for re-election last year.

In a Facebook post Kyllo congratulated McCune on winning the nomination.

“With a wealth of experience in entrepreneurship and municipal governance, Greg is ready to bring his passion and expertise to the provincial stage,” Kyllo said.

“Congratulations Greg McCune and thank you Linda Hawes and Allysa Hopkins for putting your names forward and being part of the process.”

McCune thanked his family and supporters in a Facebook post of his own.

“Over the past few days, I have been overwhelmed with gratitude,” McCune said.

“I'd like to thank each member of the Salmon Arm-Shuswap riding who took the time to come out and vote on Saturday and to those who placed their confidence in me. ... I am humbled and honoured.”

The 2024 provincial election is scheduled for October 19.



Farmer's market coupon program helps more than 105 low income Salmon Arm residents

Coupon program success

More than 105 low income residents were able to access local goods from the Salmon Arm Farmers Market through a nutrition coupon program, according to the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets.

Salmon Arm city council received a letter from the association, informing them about the success of the B.C. farmers' market nutrition coupon program. The letter was discussed at the March 11 regular council meeting.

The letter said the Shuswap Family Centre participated in the program, which provides coupons to lower income pregnant people, families and seniors. The coupons allow them to purchase fresh grocery items directly from farmers at the local farmers market.

Over the course of 2023, the Shuswap Family Centre provided more than 105 lower income Salmon Arm residents with coupons they redeemed at the weekly farmers market for a total value of $44,808.

The market vendors who sold the grocery items were paid through the nutrition coupon program, administered by the provincial ministry of health.

The letter from the BC Association of Farmers’ Markets encouraged council to send a letter of thanks and support to Adrian Dix, the provincial minister of health.

The association added this letter of support could help them secure or expand future funding for the program.

Coun. Debbie Cannon made a motion to send a letter of support.

“When you read the letter, it's pretty impressive, I think it was just over $44,000 in coupons,” Cannon said.

“I saw a similar program quite a few years ago when I was at the farmers market in Nelson, and I thought that's a pretty cool program. So I think sending the letter would be appropriate.”

The motion to send a letter of thanks and to express support for the program was passed unanimously.



Sicamous committee sets April date for public hearing on rail trail zoning, but further hearings possible

Public hearing not the end?

Sicamous council members have set a date to hear from the public as they reconsider their decision to deny rail trail zoning, but this hearing won't be the end of the line if council decides to make any amendments to the bylaw.

At the March 13 committee of the whole meeting, Sicamous council and staff discussed a date and location for the public hearing, and reviewed the process which would take place if council members decide they want to make any amendments to the bylaw.

The public hearing is for the reconsideration of zoning amendment bylaw 1044. This bylaw contains the zoning changes necessary to make way for the Sicamous portion of the rail trail, as well as four other proposed zoning changes and some corrections to formatting and language.

The bylaw was originally defeated at a council meeting on Feb. 14. However, at the next council meeting on Feb. 28, Mayor Colleen Anderson used her powers under the Community Charter to call for a reconsideration of the bylaw after a resident brought forward a petition with more than 700 signatures supporting the rail trail.

More public hearings ahead?

Sicamous council members learned if they wanted to change the zoning bylaw at the council meeting after the public hearing takes place, the bylaw amendment would need to return for another public hearing before it can be adopted.

Coun. Siobhan Rich asked staff if there was a way to take the other proposed zoning amendments out of the bylaw.

“My question is, these two other properties have been caught up in 1044 dealing with the rail trail, is there a way to break them out?” Rich asked. “Get these folks moving forward until we feel that we can move the rail trail forward and keep working on that, because these guys are just kind of collateral damage in the middle of this.”

Kelly Bennett, chief administrative officer, explained since a reconsideration of council's decision is taking place, breaking up the bylaw isn’t possible at this time.

“Because this is a reconsideration, we have to bring it forward as was considered previously,” Bennett said. “So at that reconsideration, if any further changes are made, then we can proceed accordingly. But at this point, we can't make changes to what we're reconsidering, it has to be presented the same way.”

Coun. Ian Baillie expressed frustration that any amendments would take more time.

“I've sent around an email saying 'I hope that when this issue comes back to council that there would be pride and unanimous support for it,'” Baillie said. “I don't see that right now, and that's what I'm trying to avoid.

“No one's trying to slow it down or anything, but 1044 under this provision, it's going to come as it is. And if it gets amended, it's going to start another process for public hearing and notification, that's just more time.”

Staff clarified if council decides to make amendments to the bylaw, it would take two weeks for staff to set up another public hearing.

Hearing set for April

Staff recommended holding the public hearing on April 10 at 5 p.m., and offered a few different venue options.

Sarah Kyllo, deputy corporate officer, explained why staff recommended hosting the hearing somewhere else.

“The reason we're recommending that the public hearing and the meeting be held elsewhere is just based on attendance regarding this issue,” Kyllo said. “I think we had over 50 [at] the one meeting, and then over 40. And they kind of represented different opinions in the community.

“If we bring those two together, staff is assuming that there could be a large attendance. So the idea is to provide it in a setting where we can accommodate more people, and there's more seating.”

After further discussion, council agreed it made sense to hold the hearing somewhere with more capacity, but left it up to staff to choose the Seniors Centre or the Red Barn Arts Centre. Council heard both venues have seating for more than 100 people.

A motion to schedule the public hearing on April 10 at 5 p.m. passed unanimously. The meeting will be held at whichever of the two proposed venues staff deems the best fit.

The District of Sicamous will announce the location when they put out a public notice for the hearing.



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