Nelson Budget Open House Addresses Tax Increase, Inflation, more

The City of Nelson held a Budget Open House back on March 30th as part the public consultation portion of the overall financials process.

Nelson's draft 2023 General Operating Budget is at $23-million with 50% coming from property taxes and 18% coming from sales of services like parking.

Property taxes are up by roughly 5.8% and when factoring in water and sewer rates, residents are looking at a 4.2% overall increase at $3147 per single family dwelling. The average commercial building is set to pay 4.6% more on average at $10,331 per year.

Average property assessments in Nelson were up 5.3% for residential and 8.15% for commercial.

Staff says last year saw 6.8% average inflation peaking at 8.1%.

Next in the process is council's review of input and any potential changes ahead of bylaw introduction.

Salmo RCMP Responds to Man Struck by Vehicle on Kootenay Pass

The Castlegar man encroached onto the highway near the summit of the Kootenay Pass, resulting in an on-coming vehicle striking him.
Castlegar Airport Records 84% Reliability in August

Summer's 100% reliability streak came to a close with five cancellations due to smoke and 84% overall reliability.
Grand Forks Council Approves TUP for Land Remediation

The permit is for land remediation of a 15-acre stretch between Donaldson Drive, Columbia Drive, Central and Coalshute to open the door for future residential development. It permits on-site rock crushing so that material doesn't need to be hauled elsewhere.
Renovations Continue for Second Rossland Scouts

The 1st Rossland Scouts date back to 1921 according to the group’s records and the 2nd Rossland Scouts was founded on November 4th 1952 by the St. George’s Anglican Church. More groups started afterwards but all eventually folded into 2nd Rossland.
Grand Forks Council Talks Tax Rates for Boundary Extension

City Council is expected to provide staff direction on tax-rate limits and water usage for properties being brought in from rural to municipal.
Trail RCMP Responds to Truck Incident at Baseball Diamond, more

Trail RCMP responded at 9:21PM last Tuesday, September 12th, after a 42-year old Trail man drove his truck through the gates of a baseball diamond on Laburnum Drive.
Nelson Council Discusses Management of Encampments

People sheltering in the Edgewood Avenue area were asked to move elsewhere when neighbor concerns grew, but since then activity in places like the Government Road encampment has gone up.
Update: Structure Fire at Salmo Hotel Extinguished

Traffic on Highway 6 through Salmo is reportedly being diverted. The Village of Salmo urges residents not to use their water so that instead it can be used to battle the blaze.
Nelson City Council Approves Natural Burials

The decision on Tuesday, September 12th, follows a series of debates and further discussion could be on the horizon. Natural burials could see additional maintenance costs, but review of the funding formula will wait until next year’s consideration of a Parks and Cemetery Bylaw.