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RCMP presents its second quarter report to the new village council

In all break and enter cases reported, residences had been left unlocked.

The newly elected village council had its first official meeting on Dec. 9, 2014. Present at the meeting were Mayor Luke Strimbold, councillors Kelly Holliday, Christopher Beach, John Illes and Susan Schienbein, as well as clerk Cameron Hart and two members of the village staff.

Staff Sgt. Grant MacDonald with the Burns Lake RCMP presented the detachment’s second quarter report for members of the council.

According to MacDonald, reports of assault are down 28 per cent in 2014 compared to the same period in 2013. Break and enters are up by 15 per cent. However, residential break and enters are up by 107 per cent, and 59 per cent of all break and enters reported took place on Lake Babine reserve. In all cases reported, people had left their residences unlocked.

Theft of motor vehicles are down by 83 per cent, and reports of mischief are also down by 13 per cent.

Reports of fraud went up 100 per cent. However, the numbers are still low, said MacDonald. The RCMP estimates that only five per cent of people who’ve been victimized by a scam ever report it.

During the meeting, the council also approved the committee appointments for the mayor and all councillors.

Mayor Strimbold will be the representative for the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, Omineca Beetle Action Coalition, Northern Development Initiative Trust and College of New Caledonia Advisory Committee.

Councillor Beach will be responsible for the Downtown Revitalization Committee, the Burns Lake Heritage Commission and the Nechako Watershed Council.

Councillor Illes will be the representative for the Prince George Treaty Advisory Committee, the Lakes District Arts Council, the Lakes District Rec-Connect and the Northwest Invasive Plant Council.

Councillor Schienbein will be the representative of Partnering for Healthier Communities, Emergency Services Management Committee and Bulkley Valley and Lakes District Airshed Management Society.

Councillor Holliday will also be the representative for Lakes District Rec-Connect, the Downtown Revitalization Committee and the Community Advisory Board.

Council also decided upon the dates that each councillor would be the acting mayor. From January 2015 to June 2015, coun. Beach was chosen to be the acting mayor of Burns Lake.

A motion was also carried to renew the emergency services mutual aid agreement. The agreement between Burns Lake, Granisle, Houston, Telkwa and Smithers provides shared emergency services aid amongst the five municipalities should the need arise for extra assistance. The agreement, signed in 2010, was originally for a five years term, expiring Dec. 31, 2014.