One of the things RDCK Area I director Andy Davidoff is looking forward to in 2018 is the completion of the area’s Official Community Plan (OCP).
Area I includes the communities of Brilliant, Pass Creek, Thrums, Tarrys, Glade, Shoreacres, Voykin Subdivision and Playmor Junction South.
“It is a fairly substantive process,” he explained. “Official Community Plan reviews and updates can take a couple of years to accomplish.”
The last OCP was developed in 1994. The current review started with a survey in 2016.
“The OCP update is a pretty big deal for any area,” added Davidoff. “We have been waiting a long time. It was a high priority for me when I got elected.”
The completion of the new Glade Ferry should take place in the next few months increasing the load transported in a single trip.
Work will continue on the Brilliant Headpond Stewardship Initiative as well as sensitive habitat inventories.
Work will also continue on Fire Smart initiatives and wildfire mitigation in the area.
“It is a really important priority for us in the regional district,” said Davidoff.
Renovations on the Glade Community Hall should also wrap up this year.
Davidoff and Area J director Rick Smith will be working with the City of Castlegar on some collaborative projects including the physician recruitment program.
“We meet every month with representatives from our clinics and with the mayor and CAO from the City of Castlegar,” explained Davidoff, “to ensure that we have a full physician compliment for Castlegar — to avoid the difficulties other communities have had with physician recruitment and retention.”
Davidoff is looking forward to working with the new economic development officer that has been hired for Castlegar and District.
“We want to see how the new economic development manager can support our rural businesses,” he said.
Davidoff also reports that there are some more exciting projects coming up in the year, as long as funding is secured — so look for more announcements as the year progresses.