Province cuts funding to Highline Road

It appears that the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) will be putting pressure on the Province to renew its funding commitment to the Highline Road north of D’Arcy.

The Ministry of Transportation recently announced it would no longer contribute funds to maintain the road between D’Arcy and Seton Portage. That means the Highline’s annual maintenance budget has been cut in half, said Seton Chamber of Commerce president Dennis Deyagher in a letter reviewed at Monday’s (Nov. 28) SLRD board meeting.

The chamber has been looking after maintenance on the road and sending the bill to the Province for up to $42,000 each of the past six years.

“Maintenance on the road will have to be cut to minimal, which will have a direct impact on the safety and reliability of this road,” wrote Deyagher, who added that 50 to 70 vehicles use the road daily.

Board chair Susie Gimse also noted that the road was “essential” in evacuation efforts during the 2007 Seton fires.

“We did meet with the minister on this issue and have not heard back,” said Gimse.

The board resolved to send correspondence to transportation minister Blair Lekstrom and local MLAs Joan McIntyre and Harry Lali requesting that funding for maintenance resume. Area A director Russ Oakley said he’s hopeful the discussion will cross party lines in Victoria.

“I know that Harry and Blair get along fairly well,” said Oakley. “They have things in common there and can chat, even though they’re on opposite sides of the fence.”

SLRD looks to Province for river monitor

The SLRD is also counting on the Province to pay for stream flow monitoring and an early warning system on the Lillooet River for protection against events similar to the Mount Meager landslide in the future.

“Currently, the project is being considered for funding through (Emergency Management B.C.)’s Flood Mitigation Program, with a view to having it installed prior to next spring,” said an update appearing before the board Monday.

The total cost of installation is nearly $32,000, plus $17,000 annually to maintain the system, which would gather detailed data and detect rapid changes in water levels indicating an upstream blockage or peak flow event.

“I don’t think we should pay for it,” said Gimse. “I think we should put forward a resolution that the Province pay for it and we look forward to their funding commitment.”

The local partners who would benefit from the system — the SLRD, the village, Mount Currie and the Pemberton Valley Dyking District — might consider paying for the warning system component upon approval of all boards if the Province won’t pay. Another potential funding partner identified in the update is Water Survey of Canada.

Staff positions filled

The SLRD has hired from within to fill two key positions at the Pemberton head office as two current employees have taken on new titles, the board announced Monday.

Peter DeJong, who has been the SLRD’s risk management and transportation co-ordinator, is now the director of administrative services. He takes over for Leslie Lloyd, who left recently to take over as chief administrative officer in Cache Creek.

Meanwhile, Kim Needham has moved up from strategy planner to director of planning and development. She replaces Steve Olmstead, who left to take a similar position with the Sunshine Coast Regional District.

Both DeJong and Needham have recently held the acting titles for the positions while vacant. Their hires come about a month after new CAO Lynda Flynn started with the SLRD.

Monday’s meeting also marked the first time that Flynn was at the table for a regular board meeting.

“Since it’s her first meeting, be gentle,” Gimse joked to board members at the meeting’s opening.