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Council Briefs

Council held its regular meeting on June 15.

Lillooet Camelsfoot TV and Radio Association (LCTVRA) president Brandon Uhlman made a presentation on the possibility of his group ending over-the-air TV broadcasts.

He said that the group estimates that 50 households in the area use an antenna to watch TV. The number was somewhat higher than what the association executive expected.

LCTVRA is trying to find out if it will be required to broadcast digitally in 2011 in compliance with Industry Canada regulations, he told council. It is possible that the association’s equipment qualifies for a transmission.

“We still don’t have an answer,” said Uhlman. He added that he would contact local MP Chuck Strahl this week for help.

The group currently broadcasts CBC, Knowledge, and Global, but does not have the means to buy digital equipment. (Disclosure: The writer is a member of LCTVRA’s board of directors.)

Uhlman told the council that the LCTVRA board estimates the cost of switching to digital broadcasting would be $200,000.

He also explained, “Our (broadcasting) site on Phair Mountain is significantly damaged.” Repairing or moving the facility would cost well over $10,000. He noted that the number of over-the-air TV viewers is still not very high relative to the cost of the service.

Mayor Dennis Bontron told Uhlman that the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, which provides almost all of LCTVRA’s funding, might stop the service.

“The regional district has been approached about discontinuing it.” Bontron added that a Shaw executive was due to arrive last week, possibly to discuss over-the-air broadcasting.

“There appears to be some movement to make it out of your hands.”

The mayor said he hoped Radio Lillooet, part of LCTVRA, could still operate.

Uhlman said the group expects the SLRD to reduce the size of its grant if TV service ends.

Bontron asked Uhlman to give him a written version of his report so Bontron could bring up the matter at the next SLRD board meeting.

Later in the meeting, the mayor said the Lillooet tribal council would provide $50,000 for feasibility studies related to the joint pellet plant project between the tribal council and the district.

Coun. Kevin Anderson asked if the District of Lillooet would have to provide matching funds. Bontron said the entire amount will come from a grant that the tribal council originally received from the Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition for another project.

Council voted in favour of a new policy on water sprinkling restrictions.

Homes will still be restricted to a maximum of three hours of watering a day every other day in warm months. However, under the new policy, the director of public works has the authority to impose more severe restrictions as he feels necessary.

Commenting on the earlier policy, Anderson said, “I think anything beyond what’s here now would be an emergency measure, almost.”

Bontron said that choosing the best watering hours would be difficult. In the case of homes with automatic sprinklers, “It’s sort of better to do it later rather than earlier.”

Director of public works Arden Bolton said enforcing the watering policy would be the best way to ensure compliance.

Chief administrative officer Grant Loyer said, “We will go out and check for water use at night until the bylaw enforcement issue is resolved.”

Loyer added that the district has devised a rate plan for the water used by firefighters on the Tyaughton Lake forest fire.

The council also supported applying for two grants for renovations at the REC Centre.

Coun. Greg Kamenka was absent.

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