When the North Central Local Government Convention takes place this May 2017 in Terrace there will be three resolutions from the Cariboo Regional District up for consideration by members.
At its regular meeting Friday, the board approved the resolutions.
The first one covers BC Hydro grants-in-lieu policy.
While private utilities are required to pay property taxes on properties, including rights-of-way for distribution, BC Hydro is authorized by provincial law to pay grants-in-lieu to local governments rather than paying property taxes.
In the resolution, the CRD is asking the NCLGA and Union of B.C. Municipalities to lobby the Minister of Finance to review the issues.
The second resolution is asking the government to repeal the requirement for a board of variance from the local government act.
Director Joan Sorley put forward the resolution about the board of variance and said it is an issue that affects regional districts and municipalities.
“We have to have it, but we don’t like it and don’t want it,” Sorley said.
The third resolution will ask the government to help with the costs associated with agricultural dam safety regulations for ranchers.
Agricultural dam safety is a huge issue for ranchers in the region, Sorley said.
“One rancher told me it cost him $18,000 just to get an engineer to look at it. Then the report goes to the ministry of forests dam inspector and if he likes it then it is many thousands of dollars to implement the maintenance of it,” Sorley said. “Speaking with the cattlemen as I crafted the resolution, they told me they understand that dams need to be safe, but they need to be able to share the cost.”
A fourth resolution on rural policing was submitted by Director Steve Forseth, but deferred for staff to work on in consultation with the municipalities to prepare for the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) Convention in the fall.
At NCLGA, resolutions that are prioritized are forwarded to UBCM.