The beautification project at the Elizabeth Lake entrance to the City of Cranbrook will be completed by late spring, the City of Cranbrook announced.
A press release issued Thursday, Feb. 7 said that whether or not the project will be completed as it is currently envisioned will be determined through Council budget deliberations to be held later this month. This follows concerns raised by Councillor Denise Pallesen at the Monday, Feb. 4, Council meeting, to which she indicated she was alarmed by how far the project had moved ahead, without Council approving a larger project.
"I appreciate that Councillor Pallesen feels as though she was not in the loop on the Elizabeth Lake project," said Cranbrook Mayor Wayne Stetski. "The reality is any member of Council, myself included, is always welcome to ask Administration for information on any project happening within the City at any time."
The process that the City follows around budgeting and accessing grant funding for projects like the Elizabeth Lake entrance has been in place for many years. Administration is provided a budget for the project, by approval of Council. From there, Administration works with staff and stakeholders to flesh out the project, and works with various levels of government and other potential funding bodies like Columbia Basin Trust to apply for grant funding if it is available. In the case of the Elizabeth Lake entrance, Administration expects the need for additional funding to complete the project as proposed, and has submitted the budget request to Council for discussion and deliberation during the 2013 budget process.
"If Council believes the process needs to be reviewed, then that is something we need to take to Administration," Stetski said. "What is most important is that the updating of the west entrance at Elizabeth Lake will create a much more welcoming first impression of the City of Cranbrook and hopefully entice visitors to spend more time in our community."
The next budget meetings are set for Thursday, Feb. 14, and Monday, Feb. 25, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at City Hall.