The Regional District Of Bulkley Nechako (RDBN) allocated $1,364,000 from the Growing Communities Fund (GCF) for local community infrastructure development by the end of 2023.

At the Nov. 23 meeting, RDBN drafted their investment budget of $400,000 for regional housing initiative, $776,838 in solid waste management and the remaining $587,162 for emergency management and parks and trails infrastructure amenities from their $1,764,000 GCF funds.

RDBN already received GCF earlier this year in March as part of the province鈥檚 $1 billion investment in local municipalities under to increase the local housing supply with community infrastructure and amenities.

Clint Lambert, Director of Francois/Ootsa Rural, asked why $700,000 was required for waste management investment when the local fire department鈥檚 sprinkler costs around $200,000.

Lambert added that emergency management, equipment and facilities would kill the solid waste budget if it was $800,000.

He said one trailer could cover 50 houses and be moved around during a fire emergency in other regions.

鈥淵ou bring one more trailer; we are covering 100 houses,鈥� he said.

Lambert criticized municipalities for already receiving large chunks of money.

Granisle Mayor Linda McGuire remarked on Lambert鈥檚 comment and said her community spent $400,000 on paving from their $616,000 funds. 鈥淲e鈥檙e almost depleted from our little bit of money like this. Not everybody gets enormous funds,鈥� McGuire said.

She also inquired about the possibility of reallocating the budget differently if there are disagreements.

Stoney Stoltenberg, Director for Smithers/ Telkwa Rural, asked about the lifespan of solid waste landfills and suggested commercial composters.

He said commercial composters could set up biodegradable waste management near the transfer stations.

Curtis Helgesen, chief administrative officer, said the projected landfill lifespans are within 60 to 100 years.

Helgesen addressed the Francois/Ootsa Rural director鈥檚 queries and said RDBN鈥檚 environment services [landfill, transfer station and recycling depot] have financial pressures for maintenance as they own all the infrastructure like emergency management.

Helgesen added, 鈥淲hen staff brings back the 2024 budget if the $776,838 solid waste management infrastructure funds had been earmarked, then it鈥檚 the board鈥檚 decision to put that money towards that project.鈥�

鈥淔urthermore, if the board decides to park it and figure out few things, then they will wait till next year鈥檚 budget and the funds are allocated based on that decision,鈥� Helgesen said.

Michael Riis-Christianson, 亚洲天堂 Lake Rural director, asked Chairperson Mark Parker whether a motion was brought up in this year鈥檚 budget.

Chairperson Parker said a motion had been first and seconded, although he welcomes 亚洲天堂 Lake鈥檚 director to make further comments on it.

Riis-Christianson agreed with the amended motion and addressed that the rural housing initiative was crucial.

Chairperson Parker asked whether everyone was alright with the recommendations as amended, and the board agreed to it.