North Cedar Improvement District

Spring Newsletter (April 2010)

Report from the Chairperson

Geoff Macaulay

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we welcome Heather Sarchuk as Chief Administrative Officer.

Heather has returned to us having worked various administrative positions with the North Cedar Improvement District, before joining the Cowichan Valley Regional District where she gained valuable experience.

We further extend best wishes and sincere thanks to Lynnia Clark for her nine years of dedicated service to the North Cedar Improvement District, and wish her the very best in her well earned retirement.

AGM Notice

Pursuant to the Letters Patent of the North Cedar Improvement District and the Local Government Act, the Board of Trustees has called for the:

Annual General Meeting of the Landowners of the North Cedar Improvement District

to be held at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at the Fire Hall, 2100 Yellow Point Road, Cedar, BC for the following purposes:

1. to receive from the trustees reports on the condition of the works and a statement of the financial condition of the District;
2. to fix trustee remuneration for the ensuing year;
3. to elect three trustees to succeed those whose terms of office expire and to elect a trustee or trustees to fill any other vacancy;
4. to discuss with the trustees any matter relating to the business of the District.

Parcel Taxes

Enclosed with this newsletter is the 2010 parcel tax invoice. Parcel taxes pay for outstanding loans and debentures for both the Fire Protection and Water Services. These invoices are sent out in April of each year and are due on or before June 30th of each year.

Spring Flushing

We wish to remind residents that our outside waterworks division will be conducting spring flushing of the water system. You will see the staff running water through various fire hydrants throughout different areas on the water system. This can create low pressure until the line has been flushed, as well as, for a short period of time, cloudy appearing water. Please Note: cloudy water does not render it unfit for consumption.

Change to Water Toll Billings

As many of you are aware, costs keep rising, and rising. Just to list a few that have increased are: postage, hydro, phone, insurance and fuel. The last time the district increased water tolls was in 2008. In an effort to conserve water and meet those never ending cost increases we have changed the way we will be invoicing for water tolls for the next billing period. We are going to a step system, which increases in increments. For most households who use about 75 cubic meters of water per quarter, this change will not affect your invoices. For those who use more than 75 cubic meters, you will notice an increase to your invoice.

Watering Restrictions

By now, everyone should have received a copy of 2010 watering restrictions. If you have any questions regarding the watering schedule, please do not hesitate to contact the district office. For those of you who have been conserving water, we wish to say thank-you and tell you that it is greatly appreciated.

We wish to remind all residents that they are to register their pools so we may schedule when pools can be filled. Last year residents filling their pools put a strain on our water system and we actually ran out of water. In an attempt to not recreate this situation, we ask that you register your pool so we may schedule filling before the nice weather comes. Thank you in advance for your help in helping us to maintain our water levels.

Meeting Room Rental

We now have a meeting room rental policy that allows all community groups and residents access to the fire hall. Please feel free to pick up a copy if you are interested in holding a meeting at the fire hall.

Report from the Fire Chief

Brian Morgan

The hot weather is almost upon us! Spring cleaning should be done now with raking of leaves, cutting back unwanted brush, or any other clean burning product within the NCID regulations. Your 6’x 6’ pile will burn faster and hotter when a tarp is taken off in preparation to the burn. Please make sure there are no illegal products in your pile as that could cost you up to $2000.00! This pile should also be a safe distance from any “combustible” materials.

We are currently accepting applications for new recruits. Applications can be picked up at the hall Monday to Friday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm or Tuesday night after 7 pm. Applicants must live within North Cedar Improvement District borders, be at least 19 years old, and willing to learn! We are also looking for individuals that are interested in the “medical only” part of the department, which is 50% of our call volume.

Retiring firefighters: Len Morris 16 years, Steven Rutti 18 years, Bill Campbell 7 years and Eric Kennedy 14 years. Thank you to these firefighters for their dedication and commitment over their years of service.

Burning Permits

Category 3

• Land clearing (10 cubic metres & larger)
• Issued year round by Port Alberni Forest District
• Call 1-888-797-1717

Category 2

• 6-foot by 6-foot pile, burn barrel and/or campfires
• Issued April 15 – October 31 by NCID office staff or at the Fire Hall Tuesday nights from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.