Burns Lake and District Chamber of Commerce manager Laurie Reimer said to Village of Burns Lake mayor and council last week, that she does not agree with their decision to hold on to the administration of business licenses.
The chamber had previously suggested they should take over the administration of licensing and that annual license fees be paid to the chamber rather than the village, as a form of revenue.
As reported in the Lakes District News edition of Aug. 3, 2011, councillors subsequently declined the offer.
Mayor and council made the decision during an in camera meeting and the chamber executive were notified via a letter.
Reimer said to council that she did not agree with the decision they had made.
“I have something to say about that letter, I totally disagree. Even though you have given us a letter, I hope you will reconsider. I don’t see it as the chamber taking over, but the chamber taking on more of an advisory role. We would just be taking some things off the corner of the desk and this [business licensing] is something that we would be able to facilitate.”
She went on to say that if they were to control business licensing, it would -reduce the village’s work load as well as reduce the current loss of fees from transient business.
“We would be out and about, making sure that the transient businesses are appropriately licensed.”
She went on to say that many local business owners are not even aware of what business license fees provide them with.
“We could issue business owners with a copy of the bylaw, let them know what business licensing does ..... we would be working in a facilitating role between the village and local businesses.”
She also said the chamber could work in a fee for service capacity managing the business licenses rather than receiving the fees as previously requested.
“We want to advance the community by working together and look forward to working with the village in a fee for service capacity.”
Councillor Luke Strimbold said it would be great to talk with the chamber executive again leading up to the village’s 2012 budget discussions.
“I like the idea of the fee for service,” he said.
Councillor Eileen Benedict said it is great that the group is coming to meetings. “We [councillors] don’t have all the answers, sometimes we rely on the community to tell us.”
Reimer said, “You could always make me a regular on the agenda. The chamber has worked very hard and now the only direction for us to go is up.”
She went on to provide an update saying that the chamber has increased its membership from just 40 local businesses to 85.
“This is an increase of more than 100 per cent,” she said.
“In the past the chamber has been seen as an asset to the community and we want to continue this. Hard working volunteers have turned the chamber from a deficit position into a positive. I have been hired to manage daily operations and we rely on the continued support of key businesses.”
She said the chamber plans to maintain a strong and progressive board of directors, continue to increase their revenue and attract more members.
She also requested that the village and others like Lakes Economic Development Corporation, the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako and the general community advocate for the chamber.
“They should promote us and direct business our way.”
Reimer said the chamber plans to be heavily involved in the up and coming Minerals North 2012 which will be hosted in Burns Lake, adding that after Minerals North Burns Lake will be considered a host community for many other events.
The chamber is also working on putting together a welcome wagon relocation package for newcomers to the community, hoping to resurrect Tweedsmuir Days, and promote the village.
“We would like to bring back Tweedsmuir Days or another summer event to utilize the infrastructure we already have. We are a lake side community and this is something I think we don’t promote enough. We should be promoting fun, community and family.”
Mayor Bernice Magee agreed that Burns Lake needs a ‘special celebration’ day.
“I was thinking the other day we need a potato festival, a carrot festival or a lake festival .... something associated with the area .... the chamber has put a different slant on the focus of their presentation which bears investigation.”
Mayor Magee thanked the chamber for their ideas and went on to say that council will further discuss the suggestions during their 2012 budget talks.