By Chad Klassen

Stuart Wood, Tournament Capital Ranch part of supplemental budget discussions

Feb 5, 2019 | 11:18 AM

KAMLOOPS — For nearly two years, the former Stuart Wood Elementary School has sat empty, but plans are in motion to transform the building into a cultural centre with a partnership between the City of Kamloops and Tk’emlups te Secwepemc (TTS). 

Part of the city’s supplemental budget list for 2019 is $200,000 to design a concept for the centre. 

“The Stuart Wood building is an iconic building in downtown Kamloops. I don’t want it to remain boarded through the period of our watch,” said Kamloops mayor Ken Christian. “So I think we need to move this project along. We certainly have a willing partner in terms of the TTS.”

It’s one of 13 supplemental items on which council has to decide before the final budget numbers. 

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Another is an upgrade to the new Kamloops Fire Rescue Training Centre, located across the street from the old site on Bunker Road. City staff say it requires a three-year investment at $350,000 each year to bring it up to standard following the move.

Training techniques have evolved, according to director of community and protective services Byron McCorkell, and similar upgrades would have been needed at the former centre. 

“These fire training centres are moving towards props, so they can control what the firefighter is tested and they’re not injuring the individual in the process of doing that,” said McCorkell. 

McCorkell noted the old training centre would burn pallets to simulate a house fire, but the city is more conscious of smoke hazards during training exercises. 

In addition, with record building numbers in the last two years, the city is wanting to add another building inspector at an annual cost of $102,000 attached to the position. It would give the engineering department six inspectors at its disposal to handle more activity. 

Among the biggest supplemental requests is the demolition of deteriorating buildings used for storage at the Tournament Capital Ranch near Rayleigh. Staff is asking for $785,000 over two years to tear down the seven buildings that are posing a fire risk and overall safety hazard with asbestos on the old Rayleigh Correctional Centre grounds. 

“Because of the complexities of knocking these things down because of the materials in them are expensive to do,” said McCorkell. “It becomes a liability in terms of what to do with the land. So from our perspective, that needs to happen. It needs to go in the ground.”

Some councillors like Denis Walsh questioned why tax dollars need to be spent now, but the city argues the storage facilities eventually need to come down before future development can go ahead.

“Over time, that property will be developed into a more comprehensive recreational opportunity for the citizens of Kamloops and the citizens of British Columbia because it’s going to be part in parcel of our Softball City,” said Christian. “As such, one of the amenities we’re really missing is a campground out there.”

The city is hosting a public budget meeting on Thursday evening to allow the public to discuss the 13 items up for discussion on the supplemental budget list. The list will be finalized by city council on Mar. 5.

Last week, the city announced it was able to reduce the provisional tax increase in 2019 from 3.38% to 2.26%. City director of corporate services Kathy Humphrey says if all 13 supplemental items are voted through, it would add another 1% to this year’s tax increase. 

For the full list of supplemental budget requests discussed Tuesday, see below.