Commission to work with Canadian counterparts

By LAURA ROADY

Staff writer

BONNERS FERRY — A working relationship between Boundary County Commissioners and Central Kootenay directors north of the border is being established.

Boundary County Commissioners met with John Kettle and Larry Binks, two of the directors for the Regional District of Central Kootenay in British Columbia, on Jan. 27.

The meeting was held to discuss ways to make it better for both communities because joint operations may benefit both of us, according to Kettle, board chair.

Discussion included Creston’s new recreation complex, waste management, endangered species and a fire agreement.

“(The complex) is the best thing we’ve ever done for the Valley,” said Kettle in regards to the new Creston and District Community Complex.

The complex includes a fitness center, curling center, Olympic-sized swimming pool, ice rink and more. Binks told commissioners the complex is great for kids wanting to learn to swim or skate.

The community complex was one way the Central Kootenay Board could help retain younger families in the region.

“We have the same needs, wants, jobs and need of high-speed internet,” said Kettle. “Our biggest need is high speed internet in rural areas.”

Another common issue is waste management.

“Waste management is critical for the future,” said Kettle. “We could have really good dialogue together.”

The Central Kootenay Board is under a mandate to go to zero waste at its landfill, said Kettle. In addition to its recycling program, Kettle said they are looking into a new composting facility to try and extend the landfill’s life another 30 to 40 years.

Also with virtually no market for a lot of the recyclables in North America, Kettle said they are looking for more viable solutions. They currently grind glass into sand for traction, said Binks.

“You don’t have to reinvent the wheel if we’ve spent money figuring it out,” Kettle told county commissioners. “We can share studies.”

County Commissioner Walt Kirby voiced the same sentiment saying, “We have lessons we can learn from you.”

Both sides are still learning how to handle endangered and threatened species.

“What occurs in Canada affects us,” said County Commissioner Dan Dinning. “Endangered species have a huge impact in this county.”

Kettle told county commissioners that they are very involved in endangered species and that the caribou and grizzly bear programs from the United States are mirrored in Canada.

Dinning discussed the idea of conducting a grizzly bear study in the Selkirk Mountains in both the United States and Canada to determine the population size, similar to the one recently completed in the Cabinet/Yaak. Kettle said they could help the county commissioners on the provincial level.

Kettle mentioned they are already working with members of Boundary County for the benefit of both areas. The Regional District of Central Kootenay has a joint cross-border agreement with the Hall Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, only the second joint agreement in British Columbia.

A mutual understanding for working together came out of the meeting.

“We need to have this,” said County Commissioner LeAlan Pinkerton. “To start to know how both sides of the border work and to build relationships.”

“We want to do business with you if we can,” said Kettle. “Let’s get it kicked off.”

Kettle and Binks invited the commissioners to meet with Creston Valley Services Committee tour and its District Community Complex.