The Town of Lake Cowichan's Centennial Hall has been handed over to the Cowichan Valley Regional District for a 20-year lease, it was decided during the town’s March 22 regular meeting of elected officials.
"They felt that any investment should be long term," the town's chief administrative officer Joseph Fernandez said, of the long lease.
The handing over of Centennial Hall brings it in line with the rest of the Cowichan Lake area’s halls, which are operated by Cowichan Lake Recreation; an arm of the CVRD.
The lease will expire December 31, 2030.
Additional items discussed:
There weren't many new items presented during the town's March 22 meeting. Councillor Jayne Ingram was absent from the meeting, as she's currently on vacation. The following items were brought up:
• Although the Gazette has previously outlined what groups mayor and council had tentatively selected to receive $5,000 of the town’s $6,000 in grants in aid for 2011, the recipients may not be as engraved in stone as previously thought.
The items were agreed upon during the town's March 8 budget meeting, and were voted in favour of during the town’s March 15 Finance and Administration Committee meeting.
But, during the town's March 22 regular meeting, councillor Tim McGonigle successfully motioned to rescind the previous motion.
"I don't think adequate time was spent discussing this item," he said.
Mayor and council agreed to bring the issue forward during their March 29 budget meeting.
• During the meeting, mayor Ross Forrest took a moment to comment on the situation in Japan, which has been affected by an earthquake and tsunami.
"Out thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan," he said. Although things are okay in the town's sister city of Ohtaki/Date City, he said that he recognizes that this isn't the case everywhere in the country. "I know the city of Sendai sends a lot of students out here, so our thoughts and prayers go out to them."
• The Lake Cowichan Fire Department provided council with their February 2011 monthly incident report, revealing a relatively average month, with an expenditure of $7,094.30. The list of call-outs was made up primarily by motor vehicle incidents and educational components. There was also one chimney fire and one medical aid.
• The next Town of Lake Cowichan meeting will be held Tuesday, March 29, at 5 p.m., during which time all councillors will be present to further discuss the town's budget for 2011. The meeting will take place at the municipal hall, at 39 South Shore Road, and like all committee and budget meetings, will be open to the public.