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

By LeRae Haynes

Key concerns at the Wildwood town hall meeting with the Cariboo Regional District this week included whether or not CRD services to Wildwood are worth the taxes that residents pay, the lack of a local share shed, assessed property values versus selling values, and issues surrounding Wildwood Elementary School.  

(CRD Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Rick Hodgson, Manager of Protective Services Rowena Bastien and Area D Director Deb Bischoff welcomed questions and feedback from members of the Wildwood community.)

The CRD representatives provided copies of the preliminary budget at the Town Hall meeting, which was held in the Wildwood Elementary School gymnasium following a community potluck dinner.

CRD Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Rick Hodgson went through high points of the preliminary budget with the residents, going over where CRD money comes from and how it’s allocated. He pointed out, for example, that there is a 2.4% increase in taxes proposed for 2012, including Bylaw Enforcement, Williams Lake Rural Fire Services and Electoral Administration. The overall CRD proposed tax increase from 2011 to 2012 is about $340,000.

Wildwood’s biggest tax increase will be Williams Lake Rural Fire Phase 2. “Phase 1 and 2 are separate contracts, and Phase 2 includes this area,” CRD Manager of Protective Services Rowena Bastien explained. “It includes the front end of Fox Mountain and Mile 168, and will be broken down per household.”

Rick explained that improvements to local areas are rated per household in that area, citing Pine Valley’s streetlights and the McLeese Lake Community Hall as examples. Current CRD projects include reducing the carbon footprint, the solid waste plan review and community emergency planning open house meetings.  

“Two years ago we ran a pilot project and hired a consultant in Alexis Creek in response to concerns from people who were affected by the fire emergencies,” Rowena said. “People were concerned about communication during a fire emergency. They wanted the opportunity to provide expertise, knowledge and information from their own communities.

“Local equipment operators weren’t always contacted when contractors were needed. We developed a way to handle information so that when there’s an emergency we can access it quickly.”

She said that she took the information and divided the CRD into 96 communities with both ‘threats’ and ‘resources’ and that could have people engaged in recreational activities. “I have 19 meetings scheduled to meet with as many people in these communities as possible to register equipment owners and operators and to collect email addresses to use in an emergency,” she continued.   “We will explain what we do in Emergency Operation Centres if needed, collect information on the back roads and creating a new mapping layer just for emergency evacuations,” she said. “This process is unique in the province and they are watching very closely.

“We feel that if we have this knowledge we can better use the expertise of the people who live in these areas. Hearing from the people who live in, and are familiar with the area, the weather and the history, can help us provide better information.”

She also said that residents can fill out a survey on the CRD website if they can’t make it to the meetings.    

One of the issues that came up several times was the Wildwood Elementary School---whether Grades 4-7 will be reinstated and the fact that it regularly faces closure. One resident said that, although this is School District issue, the Wildwood Community Association is working very hard to keep the school open and to establish after-school programs.  “Every year when we get our tax bill, it’s $560 for school taxes. Everything the CRD does or doesn’t do tells people not to move here,” she said. “We have potholes and open ditches and houses falling into disrepair.

“We pay our taxes every year—what do we get out of it? What services do the CRD provide to Wildwood? We take care of garbage, sewer and water ourselves.”

Rick stated that there is a Fire Department and some snow plowing services.   “I know how you feel: this last three years has been a steep learning curve for me, as far as the services we offer are concerned,” stated Area CRD Director Deb Bischoff. “Out here we pay for things in the City—the Complex, Central Cariboo Cemetery, Arts and Culture—we all pay for that.

“I’ve been working for three years with BC Assessment to get our tax bills broken into specifics like 9-11, solid waste management and recreation,” she continued.  She added that individual communities like Wildwood and MacLeese Lake are looking into individual economic development.    

One resident asked about properties in the area opening up for development. Deb said that the Williams Lake Official Community Plan, which includes parts of Areas D, E and part of F.

"I was assured that there will be community consultation meetings out here to talk about the plan—Wildwood is targeted for development,” she said. “This community needs to be involved at the ground level to provide input.”

Rowena said that Crown lands have been designated for future development. “The requirement is that someone comes in and purchases the land and develops it,” she said. “You need to be involved in future development and growth in your community.”

Another resident asked about the contract for hauling from the dump. “The truck that picks it up from the dumpster doesn’t fasten the tarp correctly and the garbage falls out en route to Gibraltar,” he said. “You issue the contracts—you should make sure they’re done correctly.”

Rick said they’re looking at doing a garbage project like they do in Lac La Hache, and invited any concerned Wildwood residents to come and see him. 

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