Clearwater, BC and Wells Gray Park, British Columbia

The Clearwater and District Chamber of Commerce  is neutral on the decision to incorporate or not.  We provide this website as a service for the benefit of our members and the community of Clearwater.

News Release January 30

Clearwater Incorporation

The objective of the incorporation study process is to provide local citizens with complete and accurate information to allow citizens to make an informed decision on referendum day. The committee is neutral on the question of incorporation and their sole role is to seek the required information for citizens. Members on the incorporation committee are as follows: Max Tanner (chair); Ralph Sunderman (vice chair); Carol Robertson; Charlene Holtby; Christy Dobi; Hans Wadlegger; Kelly Graffunder; Linda Selbee; Pauline Gregory; Ron Van der Zwan; Sheena Van Dyk; Heather MacLennan and Bert Walker (ex-officio member).

To date, the incorporation committee has met twice. One of the initial decisions was to decide on the boundary of the study area. The committee is considering expanding the boundary of the previous study area in several locations.

A map of this area will be posted at the library and the Community Resource Centre.

A second task the committee is working on is the creation of terms of reference for the consultant that will be hired to develop a study that provides electors with research and analysis of the implications of incorporation. The study will delineate the tax implications of incorporation versus not incorporating and remaining as an Improvement District. The same consultant will be used to conduct a study for the Barriere area. Initial indications are that the study by the consultant will be completed and presented to the public in June 2006. As soon as the terms of reference for the consultant are finalized, the document will be posted at the library and the Community Resource Centre.

Future meetings of the incorporation committee will be open to the public. Dates, location and times of these meetings will appear in the newspaper. We encourage you to attend and would like to hear any questions/concerns you may have.

Max Tanner

Chair of Incorporation Committee

E-mail : mrtanner@telus.net

Phone # 674 -2479

With each news release, the incorporation committee will include a couple of questions, we have heard, as well as the answers . The committee welcomes any questions you may have. These can be sent be e-mail, delivered at committee meetings or placed in boxes that will be located at the library or Community Resource Centre.

Question:

What would happen to the Improvement District if Clearwater became incorporated?

Answer:

The Clearwater Improvement District would be dissolved and new Municipality

would be the local governing body and would have its own letters patent

outlining its responsibilities. Letters patent would include all the functions

presently performed by the Improvement District plus other functions that would

be negotiated between Municipality and the Thompson Nicola Regional District.

All buildings , equipment , financial reserves held by the Improvement District

would automatically transfer over to the Municipality.

What are additional funds that become available if the community becomes incorporated?