Flurry of recommendations going forward for environmental action

By Mona Mattei

The environment committee sent forward several recommendations to Grand Forks city council as their term draws to a close in anticipation of the upcoming municipal elections.

 

The three sub-committees all reported on their work over the past few months since the last meeting of the group. The air quality sub-committee put forward a request for city hall to apply for a grant for a summer student to run a nephelometer study.

 

A nephelometer is a portable air quality monitoring device that runs off a car’s engine. With the device, teams of volunteers can monitor the air in specific areas of the air shed that would otherwise not be monitored.

 

“The nephelometer is used for wood smoke as well as road dust so it has potential,” said Councillor Chris Moslin, chair of the committee. “Our dispersion modeling (of the air shed) said there were pockets in the community. The monitor on the top of city hall roof gives you the average for the ambient air quality for the whole town. This will be attempting to find specific pockets of poor air quality.”

 

Although they wanted to work with Selkirk College to provide a co-operative student, the group decided to proceed with a summer student who could compile data and create an air quality report.

 

Other items from the air quality group included discussion about potential odours from the proposed new organic composting program at the Grand Forks landfill, its potential impact on the area, and concerns over increased dumping as a result of rising landfill fees. The committee agreed to invite the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary waste management director Alan Stanley to attend their next meeting to provide more information.

 

Councillor Gene Robert raised concerns over high levels of road dust from the lane at the Riverside Drive area due to beach goers. The committee decided that the City should address dust from laneways and in particular the lane along the river.

 

The public is welcome to join the committee’s planned tour of the newly installed solar powered hot water systems in the City Park campground at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 7 as they unveil on of council’s efforts to shift energy reliance.

 

Councillor Cher Wyers chairs the water sustainability sub-committee and brought forward their report. Priority for the water group was the issue of private well closures within the city limits that are not monitored by the city.

 

It was proposed that city staff prepare a well closure bylaw on properties connected to city water systems. The key concern is potential cross contamination from closed wells that are connected to the city’s systems.

 

“The (provincial government) has regulations in place but they’re really loose because they allow well owners to put off officially closing private wells,” Wyers explained. “They would rather have municipalities and regional districts use bylaws to require this closure in their jurisdictions.”

 

The committee also agreed to fund a speaker coming in March 2012 who was involved in the Walkerton water disaster. The cost of the public forum will be $1000 and will come from the committee’s budget.

 

A discussion on the possibility of installing water meters throughout the city took place with a proposal to ask the city to use their gas tax refunds to fund the project to the amount of $1.5 million. Along with this recommendation, Robert suggested that a building improvement incentive program for customers of the city’s electrical utility also be created using the gas tax money.

 

“Grand Forks has got a whole bunch of old buildings and buildings are probably the most significant way our greenhouse gases are used and exuded,” said Moslin. “The city would have to figure out how much it could pay as incentives, or hire a person to do the program.”

 

The committee officially endorsed the efforts of John Vere, woodstove exchange co-ordinator, to act as a liaison to home upgrade programs. The myriad of programs available are difficult for people to navigate, and his hopes are to be able to gather information that would make it easier for home owners to access incentive programs for retrofitting their houses.

 

Carbon neutral posters are now out around Grand Forks encouraging residents to investigate different ways they can reduce their carbon footprint. The posters, designed by graphic designer Christopher Heffley for the group, cover topics that individuals can take action on in their daily lives.

 

Lastly the committee agreed to support a motion to ask BC Transit to implement a bus route within town and a seasonal medical bus service to assist people in accessing medical appointments in Trail.

The recommendations from the committee will be presented to council at their upcoming meeting on Oct. 11 for their commitment. The next environment committee meeting will be held on Oct. 21 at 11 a.m. at the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary offices.