The District of 100 Mile House is planning to celebrate its 60th birthday this year.
During the District of 100 Mile House April 8 Committee of the Whole meeting, several proposals for how to mark the occasion were discussed by the mayor and council. They included potentially doing something during Hot July Nights, where the district could hand out pins or cupcakes and cookies, or serving a cake or cookie at the 108 Heritage Site during its own anniversary celebration this summer.
There was also a discussion over what pins could be handed out, with Coun. Dave Mingo wondering if there would be one made specially for the district's 60th anniversary. In addition, a potential light show and holding a separate 100 Mile House-focused event were also put forward.
Tammy Boulanger, the Chief Administrative Officer of the District of 100 Mile House, said that staff would be looking into some kind of goodies to hand out. Council ultimately did not commit to any one idea on how to celebrate the anniversary.
The District of 100 Mile House was incorporated as a town in 1965.
Councillor says two events are in the works in the South Cariboo
Coun. Donna Barnett told council she's helping work on several upcoming events this spring.
Barnett said she is working with the Williams Lake & District Credit Union to host a fraud seminar at the Creekside Seniors Centre on May 24. Barnett said the seniors are going to do a lot of work to get the people there and is hopeful the RCMP can attend.
"I've asked the Canadian Mental Health Association to come to the table for the things that they can do for seniors, because seniors don't know," Barnett said.
Barnett also noted that Fun in the Park will be held on July 5 and that they have had to change the date for the annual duck race.
"We have a whole bunch of events being put together for that," Barnett said.
Water and Sewer Frontage Tax
The District of 100 Mile House Court of Revision met to discuss the water and sewer frontage tax on April 8.
During the discussion, District of 100 Mile House Mayor Maureen Pinkney said that one resident had stated that because his backyard, where the sewer runs, is narrower than the front yard where the sewer does not run, he should only have to pay for the backyard.
"I said, well, it just doesn't work that way," Pinkney said.
During the Court of Revision, Sheena Elias, the Director of Finance with the District of 100 Mile House, stated that 53 properties had been waiting on a debt that had been paid in 2024, which led to them receiving letters of their changes to their tax status.
Residents who were previously not paying the parcel tax will also see an increase on their tax notice, and properties that had already paid would see a decrease.
There were no formal appeals made during the Court of Revision.
Council expresses concerns about Community Wind phone proposal
District Council expressed their concerns to Madelyn Gunn of Cariboo-Chilcotin Funeral Services Ltd over her proposed community wind phone.
Gunn had requested last month council consider building a wind phone, a disconnected telephone used to talk to the departed, in a public space such as Centennial Park. Council had expressed interest in installing such a wind phone in the cemetery instead.
Gunn stated that the cemetery location would not be ideal because it is a place where people would go to visit a specific site, while the wind phone is intended to be more spontaneous. However, Coun. Donna Barnett said there were big concerns about putting the wind phone on trails due to potential vandalism. Other trail proposals, like putting the wind phone in 99 Mile, were shot down due to distance.
Council encouraged Gunn to get a hold of the 108 Mile Ranch Greenbelt Society and to consider putting the phone in the scattering gardens in the 100 Mile House cemetery.
District of 100 Mile House adopts free ride to vote for transit system
The District of 100 Mile House has passed a motion providing free transit service to shuttle voters to the polls during the 2025 federal election.
During the 100 Mile House District Council meeting for Apr. 8, council unanimously voted to allow free transit services during the 2025 federal election. Mingo commented that free transit service should be available across the whole country, while other discussions had talked about how it would be enforced.
The 2025 federal election is set to take place on April 28.
Better at Home told to seek a grant for community hall usage
Council advised Better at Home apply for a grant to fund a year-round safe walking space for seniors in the 100 Mile House Community Hall.
In a letter by Cindy Faulkner, the coordinator of Better at Home South Cariboo, she stated that they were requesting the use of the 100 Mile Community Hall on Birch Avenue for a "safe year-round walking space for seniors." The proposal added that the district would provide coverage and a subsidy for the rental fee because Better at Home does not have the operating funds to pay for a weekly rental.
Council stated that the Better at Home program should apply for a Grants for Assistance, as well as continue to work with the District to see if they can make something work.
Fees and Charges Bylaw adopted
The District of 100 Mile House has unanimously adopted the fees and charges amendment bylaw.
This bylaw amends the existing District of 100 Mile House Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1434, 2024, by adding a fee for special events under Schedule D, business licenses, Part 9, by raising the fee for special events from $100 to $250.
