#environment
🏛️ Your Tax Dollars: What Should Rossland Fund?
Council is reviewing the 2026-2030 budget plan that will shape city services and your property taxes for the next five years. Big decisions ahead on recreation programs, environmental initiatives, communications, and community grants.
📊 Five-year financial plan sets spending priorities through 2030
🏡 Property tax revenue allocation decisions affect all residents
🎯 Staff presented budget preview to guide Council direction
💬 Community feedback will shape final budget decisions
⚖️ Balance between service levels and taxpayer costs
💼 New part-time communications position to improve city information
🎨 Recreation instructor role to expand programming (user-fee funded)
🌱 Additional funding for Spring Clean Up and Fire Smart Bin Programs
🤝 Maintain 5% property tax allocation for community group grants
Council requested a World Cafe style public engagement session on October 27, 2025, from 6:00-8:00 PM at Miners Hall. This informal format lets residents discuss budget priorities directly with Council and staff.
Next Steps: Council discusses budget preview at October 20, 2025 meeting. Public engagement session October 27, 6-8 PM at Miners Hall. Final budget decisions coming in future Council meetings. Attend meetings or contact Council with your budget priorities.
Your Neighbors Are Fighting for Record Ridge
Local environmental group asks Rossland Council to help challenge a proposed magnesium mine that bypassed full environmental review 🏔️
⛏️ West High Yield wants to build a magnesium mine on Record Ridge
📋 Provincial office decided NO full environmental assessment needed
🌲 Save Record Ridge Action Committee disagrees with this decision
⚖️ They're asking courts to review whether assessment should be required
🛑 Want all mine permits paused until legal review is complete
🤝 SRRAC wants Council's support for their judicial review application
📨 Requesting no further permits be issued until review is complete
🏦 Council agreed to send correspondence to government parties
🔍 Judicial review will examine Environmental Assessment Office's decision
⏸️ Motion carried to pause additional permits during review
📅 SRRAC presented request at October 6th Council meeting
✅ Council voted to support the permit pause request
📨 Staff directed to contact government parties about permit suspension
🚨 Should development wait for safety studies?
Local residents are raising serious concerns about asbestos hazards at the Record Ridge development project.
The Save Record Ridge Action Committee is asking Council to request the Province delay approvals until proper safety studies are completed.
Why this matters: Asbestos can become airborne during construction, potentially affecting air quality for surrounding neighborhoods.
🏘️ Save Record Ridge Action Committee (SRRAC) represents concerned community members
⚠️ Asbestos hazards have been identified at the development site
💨 Risk of airborne dispersion during construction activities
🔬 Proper environmental studies need to be completed first
🏠 Protecting current residents and future homebuyers
"We are requesting Council send off correspondence to the appropriate representatives at the Province with respect to delaying approvals until the hazards of asbestos, and study on its airborne dispersion is completed"— Melanie Mercier, Save Record Ridge Action Committee
This is public input - residents speaking up about community safety concerns.
What Council is being asked:
- Send formal correspondence to the Province
- Request delay of development approvals
- Ensure proper asbestos studies completed first
Your voice matters: Council needs to hear from residents on environmental safety issues.
Should our city track local air quality?
🌬️ Resident Montana Burgess is asking Council to install an air quality monitoring station within city limits.
Currently, we rely on regional data that might not reflect what's actually happening in our neighborhoods. Local monitoring could help residents make informed decisions about outdoor activities, especially those with respiratory conditions or families with young children.
🌡️ Real-time data for residents with asthma, allergies, and respiratory conditions
🏃 Help athletes and outdoor enthusiasts plan safe exercise times
👶 Give parents better info for children's outdoor activities
🌿 Support environmental awareness and community health initiatives
📊 Provide localized data instead of relying on distant regional stations
📍 City would need to research optimal location for monitoring station
💸 Consider initial installation costs and ongoing maintenance expenses
🤝 Potential partnerships with environmental agencies or universities
📱 Explore options for public access to data through apps or websites
Should Council pursue installing an air quality monitoring station to provide residents with local environmental data?
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🦔 Local Wildlife Needs Your Voice
A Town resident is asking Council to protect the Large Tail Stoat ermine habitat during the Centennial Trail Project. Jorge Rivas is seeking additional restoration efforts and reduced habitat destruction to safeguard this local wildlife species.
Will Council prioritize both recreation and wildlife conservation? 🌲
🚧 The Centennial Trail Project is currently underway in Town
🦔 Construction activities may be impacting Large Tail Stoat ermine habitat
🌿 Jorge Rivas identified this as an environmental concern requiring Council attention
⚖️ This creates a balance between recreational infrastructure and wildlife protection
🗣️ Public input allows residents to raise environmental priorities with elected officials
🌱 Additional habitat restoration efforts alongside trail construction
🚫 Reduced destruction of existing ermine habitat areas
🔄 Coordination between trail development and wildlife conservation
🏞️ Potential for enhanced biodiversity along the new trail corridor
🤝 Community member advocating for environmental stewardship
Should Council prioritize wildlife habitat protection during the Centennial Trail Project? Jorge Rivas is asking for additional restoration efforts and reduced habitat destruction for the Large Tail Stoat ermine. This is your chance to weigh in on balancing recreation development with environmental conservation.
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$117,750 for Waste Plan Update?
🗳️ Big Decision Alert: RDKB Board is spending $117,750 of taxpayer money to hire consultants for updating our 20-year-old solid waste management plan.
💰 What you're paying for: Complete overhaul of how we handle garbage, recycling, and organic waste across all 8 municipalities and 5 rural areas.
📅 Happening: August 27th Board meeting - this affects all 33,000 residents!
📋 What it is: Legal blueprint for handling ALL waste in RDKB - from your household garbage to business recycling
⏰ Why now: Current plan from 2005 is 20 years old - BC government recommends updates every 10 years
🎯 The goal: Meet provincial targets of 350kg waste per person annually by 2020 (we're currently at 520kg)
🌱 New focus: Zero waste approaches, circular economy, and keeping organics out of landfills
⚖️ Legal requirement: Provincial Environmental Management Act mandates these plans for all regional districts
🏢 Who's hired: Sperling Hansen Associates Inc. - specialized waste management consultants
💵 Total cost: Maximum $117,750 plus taxes (your tax dollars at work)
📅 Timeline: 18-24 months to complete the entire update process
🗣️ Your voice: Extensive public consultation through surveys, meetings, and online platforms
📈 Deliverables: New 10-year waste strategy, cost analysis, and implementation roadmap
What's most important to you in our regional waste plan: Lower costs for residents, better recycling programs, keeping organics out of landfills, or improved rural waste services?
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Official Votes
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📅 Board Decision: August 27, 2025 meeting
🗣️ Get involved: Public consultation starts early August with surveys and meetings through RDKB's "Join the Conversation" platform
🏠 You're affected if you live in: Trail, Grand Forks, Rossland, Warfield, Montrose, Fruitvale, Midway, Greenwood, or any electoral area
ℹ️ Contact: 250-512-3963 or rdkb.com