Citizen patrols ‘out and about’

Briefs from Village of Radium Hot Springs council meeting on May 9.

Councillor Karen Larsen provided an update on Citizens on Patrol, noting over 20 interested people had come forward to volunteer and that the May long weekend would be a trial run for the soft patrols. “Everything is moving forward,” Larsen said. “We’ll be out and about.”

New business gets go-ahead

Council unanimously approved a development permit for District of Invermere mayor Gerry Taft to bring his Gerry’s Gelati business into Radium and transform the old mini golf building on Highway 93 that’s been shut since 2007 into a new venue.

The location will be similar to the one in Invermere in that customers will stand to order and pay but the new space will be shared with the popular falafel cart vendor from the local farmers’ markets, with shared seating inside and out, and will stay open late in the evenings.

People are excited about having the falafel cart in a more permanent location, Taft said at the meeting. The goal is to be open for the May long weekend in a limited capacity, he said.

Councillor Ron Verboom thanked Taft for taking over the property and doing something nice with it.

“It will be a huge asset to us,” said Mayor Dee Conklin.

Blinded by the light

Village staff had received complaints that the new lighting on the pedestrian walkway in Radium Hot Springs was causing added reflection off the road’s surface in wet conditions, Chief Administrative Officer Marc Read told council.

Inspections by the Ministry of Transportation has confirmed the lights’ brightness fall within the recommended guidelines, he said. District staff will review the new lighting to find out if there is in fact an issue before deciding if shielding will be added to reduce glare.

Bringing in the branding

After more than a year of public consultation and process, a new branding initiative that will provide the Village of Radium, the Radium Events Committee, and Tourism Radium with a consistent look is in the implementation stage, said Read.

The new theme is slowly being rolled out beginning with letterhead, business cards and advertising, while decisions on banners and artistic layout are still forthcoming.