Ostrich motion at RDCK Board meeting
There was significant online and public presence at this month’s Board meeting to voice their disapproval of the RDCK potentially accepting ostrich carcasses from a farm in Edgewood, BC, located in Electoral Area K. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency recently ordered nearly 400 ostriches from the farm must be killed, based on testing done on the birds for avian influenza back in December. In January 2025, the RDCK received a temporary authorization under the Operating Certificate from the Provincial Ministry of Environment and Parks to accept the hazardous waste material at the Ootischenia Landfill.
Public time at the monthly RDCK meeting typically is scheduled for 15 minutes and allows community members to ask questions on any topic of their choosing to the Board of Directors. Because of the significant turnout, public time lasted an hour, and the majority of the speakers asked the Board to do everything in its power to not accept the ostrich carcasses. The Board subsequently passed a motion to not accept the carcasses until certain conditions are met.
The RDCK Board direct staff to withhold acceptance, at any landfill, of ostrich carcasses originating from a farm in Edgewood, BC, to be culled and delivered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as a result of them being exposed to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza until the number of birds confirmed infected with HPAI and the number classified as exposed, based on testing performed after May 15, 2025 is confirmed from the CFIA and/or Ministry of Agriculture and Food; AND FURTHER, that the RDCK request the CFIA provide this information directly to the public, in a timely and transparent manner, to support public understanding and trust.
Spearhead – Land Use Amendment
Following a third public hearing, the Board completed third reading of the land use bylaw amendment application for Spearhead, a local wood products manufacturer based in Electoral Area F. Two conditions must be satisfied before the Board considers Adoption of the proposed amendments. First, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit must approve the zoning bylaw amendment (Bylaw No. 3003) and secondly, the Board has requested that a covenant be prepared and placed on the title of the property that would require Spearhead to comply with recommendations of a professional environmental consultant before a building permit is issued. Once these two conditions are met the Board will consider Adoption of Bylaws 3002 and 3003 that will amend the land use designation from residential to industrial and rezone the subject lands from country residential to comprehensive development. Spearhead is intending on constructing a large industrial building on three residential lots located along Highway 3A in Electoral Area F, which would allow them to manufacture glue-laminated wood products on site. Click here to read the staff report.
Resident Directed (ReDi) grant funding
The Board approved the 2025 Resident Directed (ReDi) grant funding. ReDi Grants are a program of the Columbia Basin Trust, administered by the RDCK under contract to the Trust. In 2025, a total of $1,489,959.35 in funding will be allocated to 313 different project proposals. 22 community input meetings were held across the RDCK between April 1 and April 15, providing an opportunity for each community to give feedback on the project proposals. Click here for a complete list of all the recipients of ReDi funding. The programs support local projects that provide additional value to Basin communities, and that benefit the broad community and public good
New Water Utilities Rates, Fees, and Charges
The Board approved an increase to all water utilities rates, fees and charges. The increase ensures RDCK utility systems are financially healthy and positioned to support resilient, service-based development. Water rates vary by individual service depending on treatment and distribution infrastructure, asset renewal and operations and maintenance requirements, and the number of accounts serviced. All water systems are required to be completely self-sufficient and funded by the users of the service, except for funds provided by federal and provincial grants, when available. By better reflecting the true cost of service delivery, rate changes may also help reduce unnecessary water consumption, lower system stress, and defer or avoid costly capacity expansions or upgrades driven by peak demands on a system. The revenue collected will in part go towards the sustainable management of water system source waters, education, and outreach.
Budget meetings were held will all the respective water commissions of management and water community advisory committees, with the exception of Burton (meeting pending). Click here to read the Board report and see the new rates, fees, and charges for all RDCK water systems.
Erickson Water System – Metering Project
Erickson Water System has been awarded $3,502,332 in grant funding from the Provincial Water Meter Pilot Project. The Pilot Project is investing $50 million in water metering for 19 small, rural, and First Nations communities across the province, with specific focus on the single-family residential sector. The funds will go toward completing universal metering for the entire Erickson water system. Installing meters helps to ensure water is used where it is intended and not wasting it. The RDCK has seen a 30% reduction in water use in other RDCK systems that implement universal metering.
Director’s Reports
RDCK Directors provide monthly reports outlining what they have been working on. Click here to read the May reports in the Board minutes.
RDCK Quarterly Report
For the latest RDCK Quarterly Report, which details the current projects and initiatives of the RDCK, please follow the link.