[0:10] Good evening.

[0:14] We'll be live streaming and recording

[0:15] this meeting. The recordings will be

[0:17] made accessible on the district website.

[0:20] So, I want to call to order the

[0:21] Committee of the Whole meeting for

[0:22] Monday, January the 26th.

[0:25] Uh and we begin by acknowledging the

[0:27] land in which we gather is within the

[0:29] traditional traditional territory of the

[0:30] Sekani people of the McLeod Lake Indian

[0:33] Band.

[0:35] Please note that all comments

[0:37] comments and questions must pertain to

[0:39] items listed on the agenda. Are there

[0:41] any members of the public in attendance

[0:42] this evening who wish to comment on the

[0:45] agenda?

[0:51] One person online?

[0:53] » Uh Janice, feel free to speak when

[0:54] you're ready.

[0:57] Thank you. Can you hear me?

[1:02] » Barely. Go ahead. If you can speak find

[1:04] a way to make it louder.

[1:06] » Can you hear me now?

[1:09] » Yes, we can.

[1:11] » Thanks. I have to just kind of skip

[1:13] ahead in in the agenda here. It's at the

[1:16] end the I have a question about um the

[1:19] infrastructure planning grant

[1:21] application. That's uh at the top of the

[1:24] grant tracker on the last page. Um this

[1:27] was uh

[1:29] the application was approved by council

[1:32] um a year ago at the January 27th

[1:35] meeting, 2025.

[1:38] Um I guess I I'm just wondering I

[1:41] suppose the finance director maybe could

[1:43] answer

[1:44] in in the the report a year ago, it said

[1:47] the amount applied for was 15,000.

[1:51] And in the grant tracker, the amount is

[1:53] showing as 33,000

[1:56] 34.

[1:58] I'm just wondering if uh someone can

[2:00] explain that discrepancy.

[2:05] » Go ahead, Ms. Moore.

[2:08] Can you do that?

[2:15] » Uh I'll I'll have to look into that and

[2:18] and get back to you um

[2:20] at the next meeting.

[2:22] Just um on why there's the difference

[2:25] regarding that. I I don't have an answer

[2:26] for you right off hand.

[2:29] » Okay, thanks. Um yeah, it's uh I I see

[2:32] that it was denied, so it's it's not a

[2:35] big deal, but I have been following it

[2:37] because

[2:38] um I think we do need some pedestrian

[2:41] infrastructure in town, and I was

[2:43] concerned that

[2:45] um recreational trails were included

[2:47] were going to be included in that

[2:50] assessment. Uh these are single track

[2:52] dirt trails um

[2:54] largely used by mountain bikers.

[2:57] And uh and at the time I I

[3:00] raised the question why that was

[3:02] considered pedestrian infrastructure,

[3:04] especially uh Morphy Lake Shore.

[3:06] Um it's not a commuter trail at all.

[3:10] So um perhaps the mayor or someone on

[3:13] council could I guess I'm just concerned

[3:16] that um did it

[3:18] did trying to include trails in that

[3:21] application affect the success of the

[3:24] application?

[3:35] » I I don't know. I don't have an answer

[3:37] for that one.

[3:41] Perhaps when uh Ms. Moore gets back to

[3:43] you, she'll be able to give you a little

[3:44] more light on that as well.

[3:47] » Okay.

[3:48] Thanks very much.

[3:50] » Thanks, Janice.

[3:54] Anyone else?

[3:59] Okay.

[4:00] May I have a motion to receive the

[4:02] operations month-end reports for

[4:04] November and December?

[4:07] Councillor Wright, thank you. Does any

[4:08] member of council have a question for

[4:10] Mr. Murray?

[4:13] Mayor Atkinson.

[4:14] » Thank you, uh

[4:16] Chairperson Barnes. Um I just um I I'm

[4:19] looking at the number of uh winter

[4:22] parking warnings and and um

[4:25] acknowledging the difficulty in how much

[4:28] snow we had to move in December.

[4:31] Um

[4:32] what is the practice? Does someone get

[4:34] one warning and then if they do it

[4:37] again, they get ticketed? Or do they get

[4:39] two warnings? Are you aware of of what

[4:41] the procedure is?

[4:42] » Uh far as I know, it's one warning and

[4:44] then a ticket after that.

[4:45] » Okay, perfect.

[4:47] And also, I just want to um extend a my

[4:50] huge thank you to you and the public

[4:53] works staff for the fantastic job that

[4:55] you did. I had company here from

[4:58] Prince George over the holidays and they

[5:01] could they remarked a few times, "Wow,

[5:04] you guys have a have fantastic snow

[5:06] removal. I'm lucky if I get my street

[5:08] done twice all winter." So, you you you

[5:11] folks did a great job.

[5:13] » Thank you very much. It's nice to hear

[5:14] that sometimes. I'll pass it along.

[5:19] Any other questions?

[5:22] Mr. Murray, do you have anything to add

[5:23] to your reports?

[5:25] » Not at this time, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

[5:27] » Question. All in favor?

[5:31] Carried.

[5:32] May I have a motion to receive the RCMP

[5:34] month-end reports for November and

[5:36] December?

[5:38] Councillor Tapper, thank you.

[5:40] Any members of council have a question

[5:42] Mr. uh Sergeant Bizzarri is not here, so

[5:48] Yes, perhaps if you have a question

[5:50] perhaps administration could answer. Go

[5:52] ahead Councillor Wright.

[5:53] » Not a question, but I do want to just

[5:54] keep highlighting cuz I think it is

[5:55] something that's not good for our

[5:57] communities that there was 10

[5:59] um driving complaints for not people

[6:00] driving around buses again. So I figure

[6:02] I remember last time we talked to him I

[6:04] thought it was improving but it seems

[6:05] like November it might have

[6:06] got worse again. So I don't know what we

[6:08] need to do about this, but I don't know

[6:10] why people aren't driving safe around

[6:11] school buses.

[6:14] » No idea.

[6:16] Anyone else?

[6:18] Go ahead Councillor Kylo.

[6:21] » I was looking at the traffic violations

[6:24] in December and they said the

[6:27] there was 14 violations issued. The

[6:30] majority of them were for not having

[6:31] licenses and insurance.

[6:34] And I was wondering

[6:36] why the people don't have insurance. Are

[6:38] these people that are repeat offenders

[6:40] or are these people that just plain ran

[6:42] out of money and were running a risk?

[6:44] Is there a way to find out?

[6:47] » Maybe uh

[6:48] administration could speak to

[6:50] Sergeant Bizzari. He may have He may

[6:52] have the answer why they don't have it.

[6:53] I'm not sure if he does.

[6:54] » I wonder if you'd asked her if you'd

[6:56] looked. It's just

[6:57] it seems like a pretty high number of

[6:59] people not putting insurance on their

[7:01] vehicles.

[7:03] » It is.

[7:05] » That's all.

[7:06] » Okay, thanks.

[7:09] All right, all in favor?

[7:12] Carried.

[7:16] May I have a motion to receive the fire

[7:18] month end report for the months of

[7:20] November and December?

[7:22] » So moved.

[7:24] » Councillor McMicken.

[7:26] Any member of council have

[7:28] questions for Chief Guys? Go ahead Mayor

[7:30] Atkinson.

[7:31] » Thank you. Um I'm just wondering for our

[7:33] Chief Guys I noticed there's a number of

[7:36] um

[7:37] commercial fire alarms false.

[7:40] Were all of those at the same location?

[7:44] » 95% of them were, yes.

[7:46] » And is there a mechanism um that they

[7:49] have to take care of that or can we find

[7:51] them or it just seems

[7:54] and so would would it um be just the

[7:58] people at the fire hall or you're

[8:00] calling in like the whole

[8:02] or

[8:04] » We're having issues with uh provider

[8:06] tell us um calling 911 right away

[8:09] immediately.

[8:11] It is a group page so all our members

[8:13] are woken up at all different hours of

[8:15] the night.

[8:16] Um it's gotten worse

[8:18] and we've had uh talks with the mill

[8:20] manager or the manager of the

[8:22] » Facility

[8:23] » Facility yeah and uh

[8:25] they've assured us they're working on of

[8:27] course. Um

[8:29] we're also working with our dispatch to

[8:30] try to come with some kind of resolve so

[8:33] that we are called out. Um all our

[8:35] members it just might mean that the

[8:37] myself and the deputy will take the call

[8:40] and then uh make an assessment and go

[8:42] from there. It could be a a slowed

[8:44] response in that case if it were

[8:46] something but they have somebody on site

[8:48] 24/7.

[8:50] Um so the it's it's a lower risk. Um not

[8:53] saying the risk isn't there but um we're

[8:55] working working towards it and uh

[8:58] we've had 11 false alarms to that place

[9:01] this month alone. So um

[9:04] » Yeah, unacceptable.

[9:05] » Yeah, we're working with them. They're

[9:07] they're trying to work through it too.

[9:09] » Okay.

[9:10] Okay, thank you.

[9:11] » Any other questions for Chief Guys?

[9:14] Chief Guys, do you have anything to add

[9:15] to your reports?

[9:17] » Not at this time, Mr. Chair.

[9:18] » Thank you.

[9:19] All in favor?

[9:21] Carried.

[9:24] Um I have a motion to receive the

[9:26] finance month end reports for November

[9:28] and December.

[9:33] What's that?

[9:34] » Director Center

[9:35] » Oh well, we'll get back to those guys.

[9:44] Thanks though for helping me out there.

[9:46] » [laughter]

[9:48] » I was just confused.

[9:52] » Motion to receive the finance month end

[9:53] report.

[9:56] Mayor Atkinson, okay.

[9:58] Any questions

[9:59] for Mrs. Born?

[10:03] Mrs. Born, do you have anything to add?

[10:05] » Not at this time, Mr. Chair.

[10:07] » Wonderful.

[10:09] All in favor?

[10:11] Carried.

[10:13] Here we go, recreation services.

[10:16] May I have a motion to receive the

[10:17] recreation services month end report for

[10:19] November and December?

[10:20] » So moved.

[10:25] » Mr. Topper, any any questions for Mr.

[10:28] Gilmore?

[10:31] Do you have anything to add, Mr.

[10:32] Gilmore?

[10:33] » Not at this time, Mr. Chair.

[10:36] » All in favor?

[10:38] Carried.

[10:40] Council strategic priorities. May I have

[10:42] a motion to receive the council

[10:44] strategic priorities 2025 fourth quarter

[10:47] report.

[10:49] » So moved.

[10:51] » Councilor Kyla got that one.

[10:54] Uh does any member of council have

[10:56] questions

[10:57] um

[10:58] on the reports?

[11:03] No?

[11:04] Uh does administration have anything to

[11:06] add?

[11:09] All in favor?

[11:11] Carried.

[11:14] Other businesses. Is there any member of

[11:15] council who has other business?

[11:20] Does administration have any other items

[11:22] of business?

[11:26] May I have a motion to adjourn the

[11:27] meeting?

[11:31] Right. Mayor Atkinson and Councillor

[11:33] Wright. All in favor?

[11:36] Meeting is adjourned.

[14:44] » Call to order the regular council

[14:45] meeting of Monday, January 26, 2026.

[14:50] We would like to begin by acknowledging

[14:52] the land in which we gather is within

[14:54] the traditional territory of the McLeod

[14:56] Lake Indian band.

[14:58] I have a motion to

[15:01] adopt the minute or sorry, the minutes

[15:04] of the January 12, 2026 meeting are

[15:07] found on page five. Are there any errors

[15:10] or omissions?

[15:12] There are none. We'll adopt them as

[15:14] presented. We have no late items this

[15:17] evening.

[15:18] I have a motion the agenda be adopted as

[15:20] presented.

[15:22] Councilor McMeehan

[15:23] » Second.

[15:24] » Councilor Wright

[15:26] All in favor?

[15:28] Carried.

[15:29] Public comments and questions. Please

[15:32] note that all comments and questions

[15:33] must pertain to items listed on the

[15:35] agenda. Are there any members of the

[15:37] public in attendance this evening who

[15:39] wish to comment on the agenda?

[15:43] Seeing none, are there any members of

[15:45] the public attending through Zoom or

[15:47] phone that wish to comment on the

[15:48] agenda?

[15:50] » No, your worship.

[15:51] » Thank you.

[15:52] We have no petitions and delegations

[15:55] this evening.

[15:56] Correspondence

[15:59] May I have a motion that the

[16:00] correspondence listed on the agenda be

[16:02] received?

[16:03] » So moved.

[16:03] » Councilor Wright

[16:05] Councilor Barnes

[16:07] All in favor?

[16:09] Carries.

[16:10] So for action this evening, our first um

[16:14] request is found on page 11.

[16:17] Request to

[16:19] um

[16:20] provide the

[16:22] adult um Mackenzie adult drop-in hockey

[16:25] um they want would like their community

[16:28] hall rental fees to be waived for their

[16:31] annual hockey tournament dance to be

[16:32] held on February 28th, 2026. So can I

[16:35] have a

[16:36] mover and seconder to get it on the

[16:38] floor?

[16:40] Okay. Council

[16:42] Okay, Councilor Kylo and Councilor

[16:43] Topper. So discussion.

[16:46] Councilor Wright

[16:46] » Thank you. My question for Director

[16:48] Gilmore, because I know we've talked

[16:49] about this in the past. Do we have a

[16:52] non-profit rate for rental or is it just

[16:54] a flat rate that everybody has to pay

[16:55] and then we decide to to waive it or

[16:57] not?

[16:59] » There's a flat rate.

[17:00] » It's a flat rate. Okay.

[17:02] Thank you.

[17:04] » Anyone else have any questions?

[17:09] So um you know what? I spent the weekend

[17:12] and last weekend at the arenas. Such an

[17:14] important part of our community.

[17:16] Um

[17:17] currently in the financial situation

[17:19] Mackenzie finds itself in and we all

[17:21] know that that Tom Rex Center is already

[17:24] subsidized to the tune of a 90%.

[17:27] We get 10% um of the money collected to

[17:32] pay for everything that users pay 10%.

[17:35] Every taxpayer in this community pays

[17:37] the other 90 through their taxes.

[17:40] And um

[17:42] I love that our Rex Center as much as

[17:44] everyone else, but there are people in

[17:45] this community that never walk into that

[17:48] Rex Center. Uh and they are also paying

[17:51] for the subsidy. Um and uh I I certainly

[17:54] agree that Tom having hockey

[17:57] tournaments, having two of them

[17:59] back-to-back this last two weekends, it

[18:01] is a huge financial boost to our

[18:05] community, to the hotels, the

[18:08] restaurants, um

[18:10] all those places, but the the um

[18:14] I guess I I I have a question um

[18:18] the last sentence in the 1 2 3 fourth

[18:21] paragraph

[18:22] that um

[18:24] the tournament organizers, and I know

[18:26] they're all hard-working volunteers,

[18:29] um can offer taxpayers of Mackenzie a

[18:32] positive monetary return. Well, the the

[18:35] District of Mackenzie gets none of that

[18:38] extra money that's coming into the

[18:40] community. It does support our

[18:41] businesses, which are is very important,

[18:45] our hotels and our restaurants,

[18:47] but it actually by us

[18:50] if we decide to waive the fee tonight,

[18:53] we are actually um removing um some

[18:59] money that um we can be that can be used

[19:02] to pay for things in the community. So,

[19:05] Councillor Barnes, go ahead.

[19:07] » What what would the cost be?

[19:10] » Mr. Gilmer, do you know?

[19:13] » Um the invoice that I have in front of

[19:15] me is for

[19:23] uh $1,459.60

[19:26] after GST.

[19:29] The the the

[19:31] the room rental fee is $484.64.

[19:35] Then the extras stage and sound is

[19:37] $919.25.

[19:40] If that helps.

[19:42] » Thank you.

[19:45] » Anyone else? I see we have a

[19:47] representative from the gentlemen's

[19:49] hockey uh

[19:50] Yeah, uh um are you able to confirm will

[19:54] the people participating in the dance

[19:56] they'll be expected to buy a ticket to

[19:59] get in? Okay. And and um your

[20:02] understanding is the ticket fees will

[20:05] not cover the

[20:07] the rental of the the hall?

[20:20] » How many referees would you like to do

[20:21] for the hockey tournament?

[20:22] » Right.

[20:27] Yeah.

[20:28] Yeah. I understand referees are

[20:31] extremely expensive.

[20:33] Um and I I do note that Tom

[20:37] the for action says to wave the fees and

[20:42] your letter read a portion of the fees.

[20:46] So, did you have a um

[20:48] what you thought a portion might look

[20:50] like?

[20:55] Any help at all? Okay.

[20:57] Anybody else want to Counselor Taber.

[21:00] » Uh yes, um I'm in support

[21:02] of um

[21:04] this being either

[21:06] um

[21:07] being free or portion of the proceeds

[21:10] taken away like 50%. I'm supportive any

[21:13] volunteer organization within town

[21:15] that works hard to get outside residents

[21:18] into the town spending money and you

[21:20] clearly outlined it here. So, I think I

[21:23] will be supporting this.

[21:27] » To the to the full amount or portion?

[21:30] » Whether it's full amount or half of it,

[21:33] I'm okay with both.

[21:35] » Okay.

[21:37] Yes, counselor Wright.

[21:38] » Thank you. I'm allowed to ask a a

[21:40] question as well. Is that you're okay to

[21:41] answer a question?

[21:42] I know in the past like this event has

[21:44] happened at the Legion. You guys have

[21:45] made an active decision to change

[21:47] locations. Is there a reason why the Rec

[21:49] Center is more advantageous than your

[21:51] previous location was?

[21:53] » Mr. Walktel, could I have you come up to

[21:55] cuz we do have people listening on the

[21:57] phone

[21:58] and on Zoom so they can hear you.

[22:00] » And while he's coming up, I guess the

[22:01] reason I'm asking that is that if we do

[22:03] provide this sort of support, are we

[22:06] taking something away from a nonprofit

[22:07] that could use that support? Are we

[22:08] double hurting our

[22:11] community? But I'm just curious why the

[22:12] Legion wasn't going to work out.

[22:13] » Uh I think we wanted a bigger venue. I

[22:15] think it works better for the hockey

[22:17] tournament and as well as like Mayor

[22:19] Jones saying uh

[22:21] people that spend money to the Rec

[22:22] Center haven't actually go to the Rec

[22:24] Center. So, giving the community an

[22:26] opportunity to come check out the

[22:27] facility and enjoy uh good band and get

[22:30] spot to a beautiful place. I think it'd

[22:34] be beneficial for everyone.

[22:35] » Thank you.

[22:37] Counselor McMeechan.

[22:39] Do we not um I thought that there I and

[22:42] I can't remember and I should know this

[22:43] because I'm on the grant committee.

[22:45] The um the waving of the fees for the

[22:48] the sound equipment and and um

[22:51] I thought like every organization got

[22:53] the opportunity to waive those fees

[22:56] once a year or once in the lifetime. I'm

[22:58] forgetting how the

[22:58] » I believe you are correct.

[23:00] » So, in that estimate that Mr. Gilmore

[23:03] gave us included the sound system and

[23:05] the stage. So, I'm not sure if that's

[23:08] Mr. Gilmore?

[23:10] » I I'm not 100% but I I think your

[23:13] recollection is in relation to the

[23:15] outdoor stage policy. So, when you rent

[23:17] the outdoor stage you get a get the

[23:20] sound equipment for free. I can I can

[23:22] review it myself and go back through it.

[23:23] I thought it was tied to the outdoor

[23:25] stage.

[23:27] » So,

[23:28] so it's not the outdoor stage. It's a

[23:30] different stage.

[23:30] » Yeah, and I'll go back through it and I

[23:32] will obviously we can update the invoice

[23:34] if it's incorrect.

[23:35] Um but I know that

[23:37] through the past there was a bit of

[23:38] misinformation from my recollection that

[23:40] was going around that you you got a free

[23:41] stage rent or sorry sound equipment

[23:43] rental but when I reviewed from again

[23:45] this was a few years ago and I remember

[23:47] reviewing the policy

[23:49] um there there was no free

[23:52] sound equipment rental unless it came

[23:53] with the stage but but I I can update

[23:56] you if I'm incorrect.

[23:58] » Yeah. Well, that that makes sense.

[24:01] So, Mr. Gilmore right now um

[24:04] cuz my understanding exactly what

[24:06] Counselor McMeechan's saying is the the

[24:08] stage and the sound equipment was was

[24:11] free for a not-for-profit organization

[24:14] and the District of Mackenzie has been

[24:16] very gracious to help

[24:18] organizations set up. The stage doesn't

[24:21] get used a lot but it does get used. So,

[24:24] what is the what is the fee for the

[24:27] sound equipment that is being

[24:30] levied?

[24:36] » Just 2 seconds. I had it and then I when

[24:38] I shuffled my papers I lost it.

[24:39] » We have lots of time.

[24:42] Yes, Counselor Kylo.

[24:45] » Doesn't town council bring their own

[24:47] sound equipment

[24:49] when they move?

[24:51] » No. No, all those that that equipment's

[24:54] Yeah, when they have the big outdoor

[24:55] dances and stuff that all comes from the

[24:57] district. Yes, Mr. Gilmer.

[25:01] » So, the um

[25:02] the sound system is $579.50.

[25:09] Plus tax.

[25:11] » So, I I would I would be prepared to

[25:13] support removing that, um

[25:16] but Council Megan

[25:17] » For clarity, um

[25:19] uh town council has used the sound

[25:21] equipment, um many, many, many times,

[25:24] and

[25:25] and even just just the sound equipment

[25:27] we used on their own and many the

[25:30] organizations that would

[25:31] have the band do the dance, they would

[25:34] have that fee waived, even though it was

[25:35] just the sound equipment. It wasn't the

[25:38] stage. We only used the stage, I think,

[25:39] for Morada.

[25:40] And um the rest of the time the sound

[25:42] equipment was waived, but

[25:44] that was obviously not part of the

[25:45] bylaw, like the policy, which was

[25:48] obviously

[25:49] some, you know, we everybody just made a

[25:51] mistake, I guess.

[25:53] » So, um Mr. Rocktell, does that sound

[25:55] like, um

[25:58] good compromise? Should should Council

[26:00] so that cuts your fees down by more than

[26:03] 30%?

[26:05] So, I'm prepared to make that motion, um

[26:07] and then we can look at the policy, so

[26:09] we have, um

[26:11] a clear understanding of the uh

[26:13] of what the fees are to use the sound

[26:16] equipment. If someone wants to second

[26:18] that motion.

[26:20] Councilor Tupper.

[26:22] Any discussion on that motion?

[26:27] All in favor?

[26:30] So, there you go.

[26:31] » Thank you guys very much.

[26:32] » You're welcome.

[26:39] Okay, we'll move on to, um

[26:43] McKenzie Community Arts Council,

[26:45] request for support,

[26:47] uh asking for a letter support to the

[26:49] McKenzie

[26:51] cu- oh oh for the McKinzie Community

[26:54] Arts Council's application to N D I T

[26:57] Fabulous Festivals and Events Grant

[27:00] Program.

[27:01] » So move that we write the letter.

[27:03] » Okay, Councillor

[27:03] » Second.

[27:04] » Okay, any discussion on that?

[27:07] All in favor?

[27:09] That carries.

[27:14] Uh 7.1.3

[27:16] Civic Info BC 2026 Membership Dues.

[27:20] The Civic Info 2026 Membership Dues are

[27:24] $256

[27:25] $256 plus GST.

[27:29] And so what what is Council's wish

[27:31] whether or not they want to renew?

[27:34] » Move for the recommendation.

[27:35] » Second.

[27:36] » Councillor Burmoski, any discussion on

[27:38] that?

[27:40] All in favor?

[27:42] Opposed? That carries.

[27:45] Is there anything in the for

[27:46] consideration that any member of Council

[27:49] wishes to pull to discuss?

[27:52] Yes, Councillor Wright.

[27:53] » Thank you. I do just want to highlight

[27:54] with my NCLJA hat on the connections

[27:56] letter that came.

[27:57] I want to especially draw everybody's

[27:59] attention to page 19 cuz we tried a new

[28:01] thing where we're doing a each member of

[28:03] the the board of directors has an

[28:05] opportunity to highlight something they

[28:06] did and I was the guinea pig that went

[28:07] first. So you'll notice that the

[28:09] District of McKinzie got highlighted for

[28:11] the the ideas that we're trying to

[28:12] highlight things that are bringing the

[28:14] larger region together. So I talked

[28:15] about work we're doing with Powder King.

[28:17] And the reason I'm just highlighting it

[28:19] is that by benefit of me sitting on the

[28:21] NCLJA board, if you're doing something

[28:23] and you want to highlight it to the

[28:23] larger NCLJA membership, please feel

[28:26] free to approach me and I can do that in

[28:27] the future.

[28:29] » Perfect. Thank you.

[28:32] Okay, we'll move on to um

[28:35] » As well.

[28:35] » Oh yes, sorry. Go ahead.

[28:37] » I'd like to bring up 7.2.2 the update on

[28:40] the proposed Wolverine Wolverine Wind

[28:41] Project.

[28:43] Um

[28:44] I would like us to actually reach out to

[28:45] them to hold a public event in Mackenzie

[28:47] to gather public opinion and feedback on

[28:49] the project.

[28:50] Uh they say that they're attending

[28:52] community events, but they don't really

[28:53] tell us where and the only community

[28:54] they ever mention is Vanderhoof, which

[28:56] is, you know, maybe the fifth or sixth

[28:57] closest community to that project and

[28:59] certainly not the one with the closest

[29:00] ties to that area. So, I would like to

[29:03] make sure that we're actually on their

[29:04] radar so that our concerns are heard.

[29:06] » So, you you want to make a motion to

[29:08] direct staff to reach out to the

[29:11] proponents?

[29:11] » Yes.

[29:12] » Okay.

[29:13] Second her on that motion, Councillor

[29:15] Carlow?

[29:16] Any discussion on that?

[29:19] All in favor?

[29:21] Opposed? That carries.

[29:23] Is there anyone anything else that

[29:24] anyone wishes to pull?

[29:27] Hearing none.

[29:29] Administrative reports, 8.1, designation

[29:33] of fire inspection and fire inspection

[29:35] policy number 4.5.

[29:38] Recommendation that council adopts the

[29:40] designation of fire inspectors and fire

[29:43] investigations policy number 4.5.

[29:47] » So moved.

[29:48] » Councillor Barnes, Councillor McMeekin,

[29:50] any discussion on that?

[29:53] Councillor Barnes.

[29:54] » Just a a question. So,

[29:56] um does that mean let's say there's a

[29:57] fire and

[29:59] everything burns to the ground, that you

[30:01] guys actually come in and do the whole

[30:02] investigation and assist, you know,

[30:04] running it for that side of it, like a

[30:06] looking for arson or whatever, the cause

[30:07] of it?

[30:09] » So, we've always done investigation of

[30:11] fires in the community. Um

[30:14] if it's criminal in nature, it's passed

[30:15] over the RCMP.

[30:17] » Right.

[30:17] » And saying that, I've helped the RCMP do

[30:19] those investigations, but they've

[30:21] downloaded that to municipalities now.

[30:24] So, we used to be under the umbrella of

[30:26] the office of the fire commissioner in

[30:28] Victoria.

[30:28] » Yeah.

[30:29] » They pulled our local assistant to the

[30:31] fire commissioner badges

[30:33] and have put that

[30:35] onus onto the municipalities of the

[30:37] province.

[30:38] » Wow.

[30:40] Thanks.

[30:45] » Okay.

[30:46] All in favor?

[30:48] Opposed? That carries.

[30:50] 8.2

[30:52] resolutions of support CAN Export

[30:55] Community Investment. The council

[30:57] supports the District of Mackenzie's

[30:58] application to the CAN Export Community

[31:01] Investment Program for up to $220,000

[31:04] to implement implement the marketing and

[31:06] media initiatives outlined in the

[31:08] strategic marketing initiative plan

[31:11] aimed at enhancing residents, business,

[31:14] tourism, and investment attraction.

[31:17] » Move to the recommendation.

[31:19] » Councillor Moski.

[31:19] » Second.

[31:20] » Councillor Wright. Any discussion on

[31:22] that?

[31:24] All in favor?

[31:28] Carries.

[31:30] The Library Board of Directors

[31:32] recommendation that council appoint

[31:40] Councillor Tappersley leaving the room.

[31:47] Recommendation that council appoint Ivan

[31:49] Suski, Karen Tinsley, and Anthony Brewis

[31:53] to the Mackenzie Public Library Library

[31:55] Board of Directors for a 2-year term

[31:57] beginning January 1, 2026 and ending

[31:59] December 31st, 2027.

[32:02] » So moved.

[32:03] » Councillor McMeechan.

[32:04] » Second.

[32:05] » Councillor

[32:08] Councillor

[32:09] Moski. All in favor?

[32:12] That carries.

[32:24] Okay.

[32:26] 8.4, building abatement and demolition

[32:30] project update. The council receives

[32:32] this report for information.

[32:35] » So moved.

[32:36] » Councillor Wright.

[32:37] » Second.

[32:38] » Councillor Barnes, any discussion?

[32:40] Yes, go ahead.

[32:41] » Thank you. I'll start off just cuz like

[32:42] like I think we're all probably thinking

[32:44] the same thing as how big the number was

[32:45] that it ended up being. And I'm just

[32:47] wondering just with staff's own

[32:50] um

[32:51] judgement, are these just the cost of

[32:54] doing business in 2026 or was there

[32:55] something really exceptional that

[32:56] happened with this project? Which I

[32:57] guess oh, Councillor Morrison's not

[32:59] here. Never mind.

[33:00] » I I think what I watch enough home

[33:02] improvement shows.

[33:04] » [laughter]

[33:04] » You don't know what the mess is going to

[33:07] look like until you knock down that wall

[33:09] or open that door or pull up that Tom

[33:12] and that is what appears what happened.

[33:16] » So it's the cost of doing business.

[33:17] » Ju- just the cost of the unknowns when

[33:19] you look at a structure from the outside

[33:22] looks but when you start pouring it and

[33:25] and all of it was um safety issues. A

[33:27] lot of it um to do with asbestos. So

[33:30] that's was probably that was my

[33:32] understanding why it went that much

[33:34] higher. I don't know Mrs. or Mrs.

[33:37] McLean if you have any

[33:38] » I guess I was just wondering if there's

[33:39] anything exceptional that that we should

[33:41] be aware of for future projects like

[33:42] this.

[33:43] » Not that we really found that was about

[33:46] like um Mayor Atkinson mentioned, a lot

[33:48] of it was

[33:50] um asbestos related and also unknown.

[33:52] Like you can't really tell how much

[33:54] concrete might be down below. So there

[33:56] was just additional cost there but we

[33:57] were fortunate to be able to um find

[34:00] ways to save money in other areas. So

[34:02] using the concrete as backfill and that

[34:04] sort of thing. I do know um in

[34:06] comparison to when our quotes were

[34:07] coming back from the fire hall years

[34:09] ago, things have gone up. Yeah.

[34:12] » Thank you.

[34:12] » Yeah.

[34:14] » Thank you.

[34:17] » So, any other questions?

[34:19] All in favor of receipt?

[34:22] Carries.

[34:27] K and 8.5

[34:30] Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee.

[34:34] The four quarter 2025 activity report

[34:38] recommendation that Council receives

[34:39] this report for information.

[34:43] » So moved.

[34:44] » Councilor McKeekan.

[34:46] Councilor Wright, any discussion on

[34:48] this?

[34:50] » I I just want to say yeah, it's a

[34:54] so good to see all the things that um

[34:56] are getting ticked off the long list and

[34:59] taken care of and very grateful that Liz

[35:01] Blackron has agreed to stay on the

[35:03] committee during this transition cuz she

[35:06] has been a a huge advocate and and uh

[35:09] produced some fantastic results.

[35:12] So, all in favor of receipt?

[35:14] That opposed that carries.

[35:17] I do not have a report to I'll have one

[35:19] next meeting. Uh Councilor Wright has a

[35:22] written report. Does any member of

[35:23] Council have a verbal report they want

[35:25] to share this evening?

[35:28] Okay.

[35:29] Any member Council have any unfinished

[35:31] business?

[35:34] Any member of Council have any new

[35:35] business?

[35:37] We have no bylaws, no notice of motion.

[35:41] Uh coming events, the um

[35:44] McKenzie

[35:45] and District Museum have their AGM on

[35:48] this Wednesday, January 28th. Kario Key

[35:51] Night at the um Legion on the 30th.

[35:56] Magic uh Mountain Magic Winter Quest is

[35:59] February 20 to 22. And there are

[36:02] snowboard lessons and um ski lessons

[36:06] uh starting in February and get out

[36:08] there and we just found out last week

[36:11] that we've produced a Olympian, a

[36:13] snowboard Olympian. So, that's very uh

[36:15] very exciting for us. So.

[36:19] And I also want to um

[36:21] just came out today the notice that you

[36:24] can now go online and purchase tickets

[36:26] for the Kurt Browning performance. He's

[36:29] here, I believe the first weekend in

[36:32] March. So, those those tickets are

[36:35] available online. Does anyone else have

[36:37] anything that they want to bring

[36:39] forward, coming events?

[36:42] Okay.

[36:44] So, any inquiries from the gallery?

[36:47] No?

[36:49] Any inquiries online?

[36:52] » No, your worship.

[36:53] » Okay.

[36:55] So,

[36:56] one more motion?

[36:58] » Move to adjourn.

[36:59] » Okay, Counselor Wright, second?

[37:01] Counselor Barnes, all in favor?

[37:03] Carried.

Designation of Fire Inspectors and Fire Investigators Policy No. 4.5 - Regular Council Meeting

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