News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

Meeting called to order at 6:00pm
Agenda approved - no late items
Minutes of December 18, 2012 Williams Lake City Council meeting approved

Delegations:

1) Bruce Mack, President of the Cariboo-Chilcotin Partners for Literacy, appeared before Council to discuss Family Literacy Week (Jan 20-26th, 2013)

Business:

1. Council received the accounts payable computer cheque listings for the periods ending December 20 and 28, 2012 for information.

Williams Lake seniors will benefit from a $20,000 age-friendly grant to help create programs or tools that address the needs of older residents.

The City of Williams Lake is one of 27 communities receiving grants for 2013.

 

(Photos:  Minister of State for Seniors Ralph Sultan was joined by local politicians at an event at the Senior Citizens Activity Centre today to celebrate the city receiving an age-friendly grant for 2013.  Photos by Paul Duffy.)

"I was so appreciative to receive $20,000 in grant money from Minister of State for Seniors Ralph Sultan to help the Senior’s Activity Centre upgrade its kitchen, and to provide Foodsafe and cooking classes for Williams Lake seniors," said Mayor Cook. "It’s great to see seniors’ efforts and contributions acknowledged and rewarded. The grant application was written by City staff members Deb Radolla and Denise Skarra, and the Minister told us it was one of the top applications among 65 submitted."

On November 24, a referendum was held by the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) to determine if affected residents wished to continue having their fire protection services provided by the City of Williams Lake Fire Department. This was necessary because the previous fire protection agreement was terminated by the Province, and two secondary fire protection agreements between the Cariboo Regional District and the City of Williams Lake were set to expire at the end of 2012.

The vote was overwhelmingly in favor. Of the 1,008 residents who participated in the referendum, 978 votes were in favour and just 30 residents opposed. The reported cost to hold the referendum was $9,500.

A new five-year fire protection plan was tentatively put in place whereby the City of Williams Lake would provide fire protection services to the Cariboo Regional District.

By Michael Toay

Among the several items on the agenda of the Williams Lake City Council for its Tuesday, December 18 meeting, there are two in particular that local residents may want to weigh in on.

One item is the erection of a 4-way stop sign at the intersection of Second Avenue North and Cameron Street. The intersection has been the scene of 6 accidents this year, and at least 1 pedestrian had to be transported by ambulance for treatment. The issue was recently brought to the Council by local business owner Bill Davidson, who frequently hears the squealing of tires and has expressed concern for the safety of pedestrians. A school and a playground are on diagonal corners bordering the intersection and a youth center is located about a half block away.