A top staff vacancy in Spallumcheen is close to being filled.
The township is in negotiations to hire a new chief administrative officer, following the resignation of Corey Paiement in December 2016. Paiement accepted a job with the Columbia Shuswap Regional District in Salmon Arm, where he resides with his family.
“We will have somebody in place for April 1st,” said Mayor Janice Brown.
Spallumcheen also officially said goodbye to retiring public works manager Ed Forslund at Monday’s council meeting.
Taking on the role will be Roger Huston, who comes from Penticton, but previously spent 10 years working in the public works department in Lumby.
“This feels like home for us,” said Huston, who owns a house in the area and is in the process of moving back with his wife and kids.
Huston has been working with Forslund since January.
Road plan
Several Spallumcheen routes are on track for improvements.
Reclamation and paving is planned for Northwind Drive, Mendenhall Road, Grandview Flats Road and Eagle Rock Road. Lansdowne Road will gain two kilometres of asphalt overlay.
While the $1.2 million, five-year road project calls for five roads to be upgraded, the plan came in $300,000 under budget.
“We’re going to use that money to maybe complete another road,” said Mayor Janice Brown.
Financial plan
Only two people showed up to a learn about and consult on Spallumcheen financial plan.
The plan calls for a slight budget increase, which could be trimmed further.
“It won’t be any higher than 2.5,” said Mayor Janice Brown, who is hoping to bring it down slightly more.