The Merritt Fire Rescue Department will get half of its Community Wildfire Protection Plan rewrite paid for by a UBCM grant.
The Provincial Fuel Management Working Group will contribute 50 per cent of the expected cost of the project up to $15,000 while the city will fund the rest through its 2014 fire department budget.
The plan pertains to fuel management within city limits and public education on fuel management, including promoting the Fire Smart program in Merritt.
The updated plan will also cover off how the city will manage fuels in the event it expands its borders.
The rewrite needs to be completed by June 2, 2015 in order to get the funding.
Not discussing unsightly property
The City of Merritt is staying tight-lipped about the clean-up progress on a private property in Collettville.
City CAO Allan Chabot told council at its regular meeting on June 24 he does not believe it’s appropriate to comment on private property at a public meeting, and suggested they address the topic at an in-camera meeting.
He said council can expect to hear about the multi-agency approach the city is taking to deal with unsightly properties.
The topic came about after council heard a presentation from a Merritt resident about an unsightly property in town.
The property has violated the city’s nuisance abatement bylaw, which includes rules around unsightly properties, for years, council said.
City supporting hall of fame with letter
City council approved a motion to write a letter of support for the Canadian Country Music Hall of Honour at its regular meeting on June 24.
The vote was unanimous, although Coun. Neil Menard did not attend the meeting.
The letter will be used in the hall’s application to the province for a gaming grant to fund the institution.
