Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook Society provides grassroots leadership and an inclusive process, with a voice for all community members, to ensure that our community grows and develops in a way that incorporates an environmental ethic, offers a range of housing and transportation choices, encourages a vibrant and cultural life and supports sustainable, meaningful employment and business opportunities.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Mayor Stetski's July Message

What’s Up Around Cranbrook

We’re heading into the middle of summer and I thought that you might be interested in getting an update on what’s happening….

Engineering
Roads
It is always challenging for staff and Council to decide on where our annual budget of $3,000,000 will be invested, as there are so many streets needing improvement.  The focus this year is on:
·        Continuing the work on 14th Ave., from 13th Street to 17th Street
·        Completing the frontage road from Kootenay Granite to the new Denham Ford building along Hwy 3.  These new buildings are great additions to our city!
·        Building a retaining wall and improving the intersection at the corner of 11th Street South and Hurry Ave. in Slaterville
·        Rebuilding the road surface on Kootenay Street from 18A Ave. North to Victoria Ave. (from Realm to Fas Gas)
We are also working on resolving some drainage issues at 11th Street South and Innes Ave., 7th St. NW and Cranbrook Street, and in the alley behind Baker Street and the Green Clinic.

Unfortunately that will use up the available dollars for this year.

Staff are working on a very exciting plan for 2nd Street South from Hwy 3 to 7th Ave. and then on to 14th Ave. commencing in 2014.  This is the “Welcome to Cranbrook” entrance for people coming from the west.  The conceptual design includes trees, sidewalks with pedestrian benches, an attractive median and round-a-bouts.  Stay tuned as you will be asked for your input, particularly if your property abuts 2nd Street South.

Wastewater System
·        The reclaimed wastewater being used to irrigate the city’s spray irrigation lands are now being disinfected using ultra-violet rays
·        Cattle grazing on spray irrigation lands are now being provided with fresh drinking water.  While not required under any Federal or Provincial regulations the City initiated this as a good thing to do.

Building Bylaw
·        At the July 15 Council meeting, a new bylaw, two years in the making, received first and second reading.  A final round of discussions is being held with developers and the Chamber to see if additional improvements can be identified prior to finalization.  The current bylaw is 26 years old.  Under the Local Government Act there is no requirement for the city to seek input from stakeholders – we do it because we believe it is the right way to do business.

Corporate Communications
·        We are working on revamping both the City and Western Financial Place websites and hope to target a public launch in September.
·        Six more citizens were recognized with Commemorative Banners which are now hanging along Hwy 3, bringing to 29 the number of individuals or groups from Cranbrook who have received national recognition and are celebrated along the Highway.  We are blessed with an amazing number of talented citizens!

Human Resources
·        On May 27 Council approved a new five year labour agreement between the City and our amazing CUPE workers.  This agreement covers from 2012 to 2017 and ensures that the daily services so highly valued by Cranbrook’s citizens will be provided uninterrupted.
·        In order to ensure effective and timely delivery of services the City has recruited:
·        11 full time positions including:
Deputy Director of Fire and Emergency Services, Construction Compliance Technologist, Municipal Engineer, Director of Finance, Financial Services Manager, Event and Marketing Manager and a Corporate Energy Manager (shared 50:50 with BC Hydro). 

Fire Services
In addition to providing fire and first response services to keep our citizens safe our Fire and Emergency Services Department:
·        Completed the fountain/landscaping project at the Fire Hall with Public Works assistance.  The community is invited to celebrate the project with refreshments and tours of the Fire hall on 2nd Street South on Friday, July 19 from 3 – 5 PM
·        Held the annual Sam Steele Fishing Derby with 150 kids participating
·        Participated in the Relay for Life and held a Mother’s Day Car Wash raising $1370 for cancer research.

Leisure Services
·        Dwight Yoakam has been booked for a September 19 concert and tickets are now on sale
·        Organized the Canada Day events, which concluded with a spectacular fireworks display thanks to Gord Felske’s fundraising and the generous donations from many businesses and individuals.
·        The new tennis and pickle ball courts were completed by Mt. Baker School and are open for use.  Try them out – they are exceptional!
·        Planning is underway to complete the trail that will link Rotary Way to the North Star Rails to Trails.  Once completed later this fall you will be able to cycle from downtown Cranbrook to downtown Kimberley, all on designated hard surface trails!
·        The new Bike Skills park located next to the Skateboard Park, is in use thanks largely to the efforts of dedicated volunteers.  This is a great addition that encourages a healthy community.

Public Works
These are the staff that keep our city looking great on a day-to-day basis, and includes 15 summer students.  In addition to mowing grass, hanging baskets, planting trees (e.g. Kinsmen Park) and dealing with infrastructure the crew have:
·        Completed constructing a ramp to provide access to the RCMP building for those in wheelchairs (long overdue)
·        Installed the Overhead Crosswalk at Victoria and 4th Street North (near Save On Foods) which is a real improvement for pedestrian safety.
·        Completed the information kiosk as part of the improvements to the Elizabeth Lake entrance to Cranbrook.  Watch for an official opening to this greatly improved site in September.

These are just a few of the initiatives that have been completed or are underway so far this year and it’s only mid-July!

Feel free to drop by city hall for a chat, come to Coffee with the Mayor at A & W or drop by the city booth at the Farmer’s Market on August 10th, attend the next Council meeting on August 12 or drop by Council Chambers on August 14 for the Brown Bag lunch.  Stay safe and enjoy the rest of summer 2013!

Mayor Wayne Stetski
Cranbrook


The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the City of Cranbrook.

9 comments:

  1. Why would the city use 2nd street south as a welcome to Cranbrook entrance from the west rather than using Baker street entrance that has already had volunteers raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the arches and planting trees, sidewalks, etc? This seems like not only a HUGE waste of taxpayer's money by doubling up an EXTRA "entrance" but also a slap in the face to those volunteers that worked tirelessly to beautify the entrance to the city on Baker Street? We now will not be using this as a main entrance for half of the people visiting the city???

    I'm assuming a budget will be done to show the citizens what this extra entrance will now cost the taxpayers before any work is done?

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  2. Anonymous - I was just thinking the same thing. Although we could argue that every street off the Hwy 3 corridor is an entrance to Cranbrook. I guess we should budget to build some sort of welcome on each one?

    As for the budget - do we have any idea what the Mayors special project at Elizabeth Lake is costing taxpayers? I'm pretty sure we don't - although it's pretty (to some) so the cost is irrelavent (to some).

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  3. Good to see Mr. Mayor keeping us informed. It does make me wonder however - does this update get posted or printed anywhere else or is it just for people that read this blog?

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  4. The press release goes to other media also and was printed in the Townsman this week.

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  5. Mayor Wayne here - thanks for the opportunity to comment.

    The reason that 2nd Street South is a welcome to Cranbrook entrance is because it's the first highway sign that directs people into Cranbrook when you're coming from the west. It does so because 2nd Street South is a major arterial street that leads to the city campground, the golf course and the hospital. This is no way detracts from the Arch and the entrance into downtown via Baker Street. The public will be invited to provide input on the redesign of 2nd Street South prior to Council making a decision on the project.

    The improvements to Elizabeth Lake will hopefully be completed for an official opening in early September. The rock sign has a story behind it and the artist, Paul Reimer, will tell the story at the official opening.When I was down at the Lake Info Centre yesterday talking to the Volunteers I was told that someone had started a different kind of story that the rocks for the sign and along the roadway cost $40,000. Actual cost for the rocks was under $7000. Once we have a final cost on all of the improvements which include road redesign, paving,landscaping, picnic tables, information kiosk and the new Welcome to Cranbrook sign we will publish the information.

    I personally am very pleased whenever we are able to improve our city while limiting the increases to our taxes. If Anonymous has any suggestions on improvements that they believe should be a priority I'd be happy to hear from them at 250.489.0200. I look forward to hearing from them. Mayor Wayne Stetski

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  6. I notice Mayor Stetski seems to be quite specific in the "cost of the rocks was under $7,000" - I think what the taxpayers in Cranbrook and the volunteers at the Info Centre would be a lot more concerned with is the total cost of the rock sign....including but not limited to design fees, costs paid to Paul Reimer, rock costs, freight costs, crane rental, costs of lettering (which can't be seen and apparently already need changed which will cost taxpayers more money), lighting costs, landscaping costs, sign permit fee costs, etc, etc, etc. Is Mayor Stetski telling the taxpayers that the TOTAL cost is under $7,000???

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  7. Seems fair to assume that the mayor's comments regarding the rock costs are exactly what the previous post was implying.

    Similar to when someone pulls up in a brand new car and you say to them "wow that's a nice set of wheels! what did that set you back?" and they reply with "Oh about $2,000" - because technically that's what the "set of wheels" cost, and that's what was asked.

    A very similar answer to this rock sign question.

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  8. It may interest the Anonymous commenter/s to read previous posts on this topic. Just do a search under The West Entrance. Of course over Cranbrook’s history, entrances have always been of significance to the community – remember the original East and West arches that have been replicated as one for approximately one million dollars. This project has been a joint project between the original initiative of the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure and the City. For complete costings one should probably be asking both parties. There was a pre-approved budget for this project, which was clearly publicised and Mayor Stetski has made it quite clear a final summary will be provided. The project is not yet finished.

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  9. So, in other words....yes the amount the mayor has been so quick to promote - the $7,000 cost...is the cost of the ROCKS. NOT the rock sign. Very big difference and it just points out to the citizens how closely they need to pay attention to the words that the mayor uses.

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