Invermere to test LED streetlights

The District of Invermere, at its regular Council meeting on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, voted to implement an LED Streetlight Pilot Program which could see Invermere gradually change its streetlighting to newer, hi-tech LED lights.

The plan is to install five new lights at the intersection of Panorama Drive and Highway 801R for a trial period of 100 days. (If the reader hasn’t heard of Highway 801R — I had to have some help with this myself — it is the main road up the hill from Athalmer toward the downtown core}. [Read more]

RCMP report to Invermere council

Mayor’s quarterly report – Feb 23, 2010.

A report to District of Invermere council by S/Sgt Marko Shehovac of the RCMP Columbia Valley detachment.

Once again it is my pleasure to report to Invermere council for the first quarter of 2010.

Detachment Status:

When at full strength Columbia Valley detachment consists of the following members: [Read more]

Olympic mittens arrive

At Tuesday night’s District of Invermere Council Meeting, Councillor Ray Brydon, who is the official organizer of Invermere’s Olympic celebrations, told Council that a supply of official Olympic mittens has arrived and are available for purchase at the District of Invermere office. So far, only adult sizes are available but youth sizes will be coming shortly. They are $10 per pair.

Councillor Brydon recommends that you get yours early as the supply is limited.

Invermere's aquifer protection plan

An aquifer protection plan for the District of Invermere’s water.

At the regular meeting of the District of Invermere Council on Tuesday, November 10, 2009, Director of Municipal Works, Brian Nickurak recommended to Council that they proceed with a prequalification process in order to make a request for proposals for an aquifer protection plan for the District’s supply of potable groundwater. [Read more]

DOI long-range plans for fire protection

Invermere fire department strategic plan presented to council.

The District of Invermere contracted the firm of Results Management Services to review the District’s fire department and to develop a 10-year Strategic Plan, commencing immediately and reaching to 2018 (this plan could conceivably extend farther into the future). At the October 27, 2009 meeting of the District Council, the recommendations of the review were presented to Council for consideration. There are both financial and non-financial implications for the District, the fire department and the taxpayers. These recommendations would be considered each year as the District undertakes its annual financial process and there would be a re-assessment at the five-year point. [Read more]

Taft: tax liquor for policing and social programs

At the Tuesday, October 27, 2009 meeting of the District of Invermere Council, Mayor Gerry Taft put forth a recommendation “that the District of Invermere encourage the provincial government to pass legislation to create a new 3% tax on liquor so that the current tax rate of 15% is maintained and that the revenues from the new tax go directly into police funding and social programs, not general revenue”. [Read more]

Unfinished Cardel project a point of contention

There’s not much the District of Invermere can do about a prominent building project in the municipality that’s been sitting unfinished for months.

The Purcell Point townhome project, overlooking Invermere’s downtown core between 9th and 12th Streets on 10th Ave., has been under construction for approximately two years. While parts of the multi-building project are finished, and even occupied, there are still large sections that have been left to weather throughout the winter and into summer. [Read more]

Saving CPR Lodge — mayor vows to keep on track

Despite growing concerns about the District of Invermere’s (DOI) logic in throwing weight behind efforts to move a historical building off a private property, the Mayor said he believes efforts to keep the old CPR lodge in the community’s hands are credible and worthwhile. [Read more]

Invermere, Windermere and ‘Flats getting government cash

Sidewalks, water, trails and trees, oh my!

Three local communities will be receiving almost $2 million in provincial and federal funding to make a number of significant upgrades in the municipal and regional infrastructure. East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett,  Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, and Columbia River Revelstoke MP Jim Abbott traveled to the Columbia Valley over the weekend in order to make a number of significant funding announcements for the area. [Read more]

Invermere gets vague response from Minister of Health Services

Emergency Department Project –

On January 26, 2009 the District of Invermere, received a letter from George Abbott, Minister of Health Services, regarding the proposed upgrades to the Emergency Department at the Invermere and District Hospital. The letter states that the Interior Health Authority has submitted the project as “one of their highest capital priorities.” However, it also states that: “The Ministry is reviewing this request, along with similar requests from all health authorities.” Has this project been put back into the pack? How will they prioritize and where will we end up? [Read more]