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Town of Ladysmith applying for $5.5-million grant for Machine Shop

Council considers grants, development, bylaws and more at meeting June 21
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Foundation work on the Machine Shop. (Town of Ladysmith photo)

A multimillion-dollar grant opportunity was on the table for the town to consider at a council meeting June 21. The Union of B.C. Municipalities strategic priorities capital infrastructure stream is potentially available to the town, and staff recommended that an application in the amount of $5.49 million be forwarded to fund the Machine Shop arts, heritage and cultural centre project. The town has to commit to any unexpected ineligible costs and overruns. The motion to apply was unanimous, with council members indicating a wish to see the application be completed as quickly as possible.

READ ALSO: Machine Shop upgrades will exceed original cost projections

The town also has the opportunity to apply for a $251,000 grant to fund the old town stormwater plan. As in the previous application, the town must commit to cover any unexpected costs and overruns. Staff recommended that council move forward on this. Staff advised council that at this time the only unexpected costs could be $30,000 for additional survey work, but noted that the project has already been budgeted. Council endorsed the recommendation to apply for the grant.

Two bylaws were on the agenda for adoption. A fireworks regulation bylaw which would regulate, prohibit and impose requirements on the sale, possession and discharge of fireworks within the town passed unanimously. A second bylaw for adoption a the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act bylaw that also passed unanimously. Copies of the bylaws can be found on the Town of Ladysmith website at www.ladysmith.ca/business-development/bylaws-maps.

There were two development applications before council. One was for a single detached house at 740 Fourth Ave. It was the site of the former Hills Grocery and the old building had been demolished in 2021. The property was zoned commercial and the owners told staff that they have no plans for any type of commercial building on the site. Council voted unanimously in favour of the issuing of the permit.

The second development permit request was for lot at Holland Creek. The staff recommendation was that council issue a permit for subdivision and environmental protection for the property subject to the applicants providing a $15,000 bond, and council raised that bond to $30,000. The property had had some areas cleared previously without approval, and those areas would also have to be restored by next spring. The recommendations also included that the developer be responsible for annually clearing the property of invasive species of plants until the property is fully developed.Council voted unanimously to issue the permit with those to changes to the staff recommendation.

Another item of business was from the poverty reduction task force. Council voted in favour of the task force’s terms of reference and appointed Coun. Tricia McKay as the town’s representative on the task force and Coun. Amanda Jacobson as the alternate.

Also, Quentin Goodbody presented on the status of the Ladysmith and District Historical Society. He gave an annual operational report and informed council that the agreement with the town is expiring.

editor@ladysmithchronicle.com





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