April meetings began with readings of original poetry by Ruby Staples(IDES) Maria Landa( TFA) Austyn Potyok(FSS) and Keith Liggett, adult from the community. The poems were all fantastic and worthy of Calgary’s Mayor Nenshi’s challenge to Fernie to commemorate Poetry Month. Thank you all for coming to Council and reading your poetry, you made us proud.

I want to acknowledge the retirement of Library board members and thank them for the many years of service as volunteers, Min Merritt, Sylvia Ayers and Stephen Gort, each with 8 years of valuable contribution and Adam MacDonald with a little less but just as valuable a member. Congratulations and Thanks goes to long-time staff member Heather Gordon, on her retirement from the Library. I can hardly picture the Library without Heather in it. Her warm smile, friendly manner and willingness to assist are going to be missed by the many patrons that she welcomed so cordially into the Library.

Thanks goes to Sue Bawden for her years on the Beautification Committee serving as chair. Under her leadership several goals and ideas were looked at including the gifting policy reviewed and updated, highway lighting, revitalizing Second Avenue planters, event banners and signage and public art.
After several months of meetings members of the Mobile Street Vendors Task Force presented their findings to Council, sincere thanks to all.

The City has a multitude of committees with residents taking part in decisions that affect our city. I want to acknowledge the volunteers that care so deeply for this town. Council knows who you are and thanks you for your continued commitment.

Fernie was extended an invitation to host the BC Seniors Games, this was turned down a couple of years ago but if interest is generated by Fernie residents and neighbouring communities this can be given serious consideration. Volunteers are first concern as hundreds are required to organize and execute this event. The economic benefit to the Valley is said to be huge. Are you willing to be part of the organizing team, volunteer during and after the games? This will take lots of hard work. Please let the Fernie Chamber and City Council know.

The Kootenay Carshare Cooperative’s Community Company Car Program is available to anyone that wants to be involved- contact info@carsharecoop.ca for information.

Mike LoVecchio attended a Council meeting to discuss Rail Safety. A further meeting will be held with CP and CP Police, RCMP, Area A director, City staff and Council to put in place a protocol to pass information regarding blocked crossings from CP Police to RCMP and then to the Fernie Fire Department.

Alan Fryer, Coal Alliance, Nic Milligan, Teck Resources, Mike LoVecchio CP, and Troy Cook, Steelworkers Union, presented on behalf of the Coal Alliance. The Coal Alliance is an industry group consisting of terminals, railways, mines and industry association working with organized labour and others that support mining and shipping of coal in BC. Groups in the lower mainland are campaigning strongly against the coal industry. The message from this group to Council is that “It is vital for our future that those who support coal are just as vocal in doing so as those who oppose it”. Over 26,000 British Columbians are employed by the coal industry that is a major contributor to the economy. Council provided a letter of support as we recognize without the coal industry this Valley wouldn’t offer the high quality of life most enjoy. In supplying steel making coal for over a century this area has provided enormously to the economy of both BC and Canada.

After years of lobbying the City has been informed that the 13th street rail crossing arms project is a go with CP and the City paying each 25% of the cost and Transport Canada 50%.

Ridgemont Park is now in the process of being redone and should be ready for kids to enjoy by summer.

The 2015-2019 Financial plan has been finalized and in 2014 as legislated the City collected $5.766 million in taxes on behalf of other agencies and $5.034 million for the Municipality. 53% of your tax bill goes towards School Tax, RDEK, Policing Services, Regional hospitals, BC Assessment and Municipal Finance Authority that have to be collected by the City.

Since patios were allowed there has been a barrage of comments, some positive some negative. I want to address this issue as every decision made by Council has many facets of thought. The patios are there to give downtown a vibrant look and feel which then allows for more people to come and check what is available on Second Avenue. Without visitor support our unique shops would close. When I hear residents mentioning Fernie changing I want to shout out yes, Fernie has changed, it has changed since it was strictly a coal mining town. I recall many empty lots downtown. Now we have buildings that host businesses. We had small grocery stores which were great for the time as you could call in and order what you wanted and have it delivered to your door. We had shoe stores and several clothing stores; we had Robinson’s five and dime, dry goods stores, furniture stores and a department store Trites Wood. There were several hotels on Main Street, King Eddy, Northern, Waldorf, Kings, Grand Central, along with the Fernie, Royal, Legion. We had coal and wood stoves and furnaces and snow falls many feet deep. There was low traffic on the highway and aside from Bossio’s bus stop, Texaco, Shell and Esso gas there wasn’t much along the road for tourists to stop for.

Change is inevitable; it’s the nature of things. I’ve loved Fernie from the moment I set eyes on the tiny town that was Maintown and the Annex. I love seeing it grow, love the changes growth brings, no more having to wake up to a cold house, no more having to bring ashes outside to the alley, no more party lines so your neighbours hear everything. There is new technology, right now Telus is implementing fibre across the city. Yes, some of the changes have been harsh, high real estate prices, good for those that moved away, not so much for our children wanting to remain home.

People changed as well because with good paying mining jobs and a four day work week there is freedom to travel often and spend dollars outside of Fernie. With less support our businesses have to depend more on the visitors that come to town. I don’t want to see a downtown of empty buildings but no one can enforce local shopping. So for those that are upset over patios and bike racks please think about the scenario of having plenty of parking with no shop to go into.

As elected persons decisions have to be made with consideration for everyone, five more parking spots have been created to improve parking for the disabled and for those with mobility issues. Letters are written to ask delivery trucks not park on Second Avenue.

Councils do their best to accommodate and support everyone. In doing so there will always be someone who isn’t happy but as we don’t live in a silo reflection not just reaction needs to be given to decisions made by your Council.