The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary board says it wants to solve an impasse over an overnight emergency shelter in Trail that has frustrated local politicians and a community group.
Two weeks ago, the Trail Community Action Team sounded the alarm that the city might not have a shelter this winter because of the way the RDKB was applying the BC Building Code. While an overnight shelter operated in the basement of the United Church in the previous two winters, inspectors now insist any such space must have sprinklers.
Trail mayor Colleen Jones wrote to the Ministry of Emergency Management on Jan. 13 seeking clearer direction on how the building code applies to shelters. She also appeared Tuesday on CBC Radio’s Daybreak with Chris Walker, where she explained the situation.
Walker asked if “personal animus” or some other issue was at play in addition to regulations. Jones replied: “I believe it’s political. I think this is what is holding us back. Something political going on.”
That comment rankled some RDKB directors, including chair Grace McGregor. “That one line doesn’t sit well with me at all,” she told the board Wednesday. She suggested they write to the City of Trail offering to work things out, but take issue with Jones’ statement.
Other directors supported writing the letter but didn’t want to include any complaints.
“I’d like to keep it low level first,” Fruitvale director Bill Wenman said. “Statements were made. We don’t need to raise the [temperature]. I think we just tell staff to work with [city] staff and try and work it out.”
Trail director Terry Martin said while he didn’t want to rehash the details, “I’m just hoping staff from both the City of Trail and the regional district can get together and figure this out soon. It’s only the end of January. As we all know in February, it can get cold again.”
The board agreed to send the letter without mentioning Jones’ comment.
In her interview with CBC, Jones also said the city has been in touch with the provincial government, who told them the city correctly interpreted the building code, and that it is possible to have a shelter without sprinklers as a temporary use.
The Ministry of Housing confirmed to Vista Radio this week that it has followed up with the city on safety concerns related to the building code, but didn’t provide any specifics.
Messages left with the RDKB’s building inspection department weren’t returned last week, but chief administrator Mark Andison appeared on Daybreak on Wednesday morning, where he said it’s within the City of Trail’s power to declare the church basement or another space be used as a shelter even though it doesn’t meet building requirements.
Andison said Nanaimo adopted such a stance, although it potentially opens a municipality up to greater liability. He said Nanaimo’s policy includes prescribed operating conditions.
Andison also defended the RDKB’s building inspection department, saying that they, “more than anyone … have a deep sense of concern around life safety issues. That is their pre-eminent concern.”
Andison said the RDKB is committed to working with the City of Trail on a solution.
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