Summary of August 3 stand up meeting
BLE Stand Up meeting highlights Aug 3 at 10 a.m. at the works yard
The BLE Stand Up meeting held August 3 at 10 a.m. at the works yard appears to have been a success with about 50 people in attendance. For those of you who were unable to make it and for those of you who were there, we have highlighted some of the topics of conversation below.
Water piping project update – complete and UNDER budget!
John Irish reported that this major project is fundamentally complete AND under budget. The project team and Caretaker Pete continue to help shareholders pressure test their lines to find and fix any leaks on their properties.
In the fall, there may be an opportunity for shareholders to have their properties trenched and new high quality water lines installed (from the road to their cabins) by the contractor that did the piping work here at BLE. Stay tuned for more information.
Special thanks to Greg Webber who allowed the contractors to stay in his cabin while the work was being done. His contribution saved BLE’ers thousands of dollars in added cost to house and feed the piping crew in Pemberton. Thank you SO much Greg!!
New website up and running……Check it out!!
www.birkenheadlakeestates.ca
Nicole Heisterman, Director of Communications, is still tweaking a few things but our awesome new website is on-line and operational.
The most important improvement with the new website is that we are now able to push notifications (via email) to shareholders. We no longer have to go through Royal Lepage to send out important shareholder information. You are receiving this update because of this new capability. And even more exciting? We can send out notifications to more than one individual per lot (a limitation with RLP). Encourage your family members or other regular users of your lot to sign up for email notifications. Their email addresses will be automatically added, and they too will receive notifications. We are very excited about these new capabilities and our ability to connect with shareholders and their family members more regularly.
FireSmart initiatives
Marc Kuiper, our FireSmart champion, provided an update on FireSmart initiatives and informed us that we are now a recognized FireSmart community!! Well done BLE!! We received a plaque from FireSmart BC which will soon be displayed near the front gate.
Special thanks to Margrit and Max Meier (Lot 11) who made a significant donation to BLE after our wildfire scare last year. Those funds will be used to stock the new firefighting toolboxes (3 of them) that will be placed in strategic positions throughout the community, providing quick access to essential gear for use if a fire were to break out on or near your lot.
Caretaker’s cabin – we need a champion to help get this project over the finish line
The metal siding is on site and will be installed by Caretaker Pete with some help from Don and Mario. BLE would really appreciate it if someone could step up and project manage this effort through to completion. Once the metal siding is installed the hardy board can be ordered. A champion is needed to arrange transport and installation. Please contact the BLE Board (contact emails are on our new web-site or you can email BLE.board.communications@gmail.com) if you can be that champion! Let’s check this one off the list!!
SLRD Building Inspection
Don Murphy, Kevin Clark and Erik Dier met the SLRD building inspectors at the BLE gate on July 23 and escorted them to the property against which a complaint for ‘building without a permit’ had been lodged late last fall. A stop work order was issued to the shareholder. The order shall remain in place until such time as they come into compliance.
Shareholders are advised that according to our BLE Articles and Rules, the individual shareholder is responsible for understanding the SLRD building codes, permit requirements.
Shareholders must also understand and comply with riparian or property line setbacks.
The SLRD inspectors confirmed that their system is complaint based. If a complaint is lodged, they are required by law to attend.
If a shareholder has a complaint, he/she/they should first try to reach an amicable solution with the neighbour. If a solution cannot be negotiated, the complainant should contact the BLE Board or the property management company. Once an outside party becomes involved, BLE cannot control or influence the outcome.
And last but not least……………
Several Board members will be stepping down following the BLE AGM (likely late November or early December). Please consider putting your name forward to become a Board member for 2026. A Board member need not be a shareholder. Any stakeholder ie adult children of shareholders would be welcome to join our Board!!
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT!! YOUR QUESTIONS AND OTHER INPUTS ARE VERY MUCH VALUED BY YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS! ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR SUMMER IN THIS AMAZING COMMUNITY WITH YOUR CABIN NEIGHBOURS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!
Thank you, Birkenhead Lake Estates Board