[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.