“State of the city” report given by Cranbrook mayor

Mayor Wayne Stetski with chamber president Lana Kirk (left) and luncheon sponsor representative, Silver Pocha (center)

Cranbrook mayor Wayne Stetski presented his first "state of the city" report at the September monthly meeting of the Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce yesterday.

Here are some highlights of his presentation:

Businesses licenses for first 8 months of 2012 are at 1432 up 114 from all of 2011.

• Building permits to end of August 2012 sit at $24 million - 33% increase over 2011.
• New industrial development is at $3.3 million, which is 3.5 times as much as 2011.
• Airport traffic is up 6% over last year to date.
• Total airport traffic is on target to be at 113,360 passengers, a 5% overall increase.
• 36 new housing starts in Cranbrook through August 31st.

Mayor Stetski also spoke of potential projects that are coming up that will boost the Cranbrook economy as well.

• A new intensive care unit at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital - $20 million
• New homeless and short-term transitional shelter and housing at the Salvation Army - $16 million
• New high school for Cranbrook - $35 million to $40 milllion

The mayor concluded by saying, "Cranbrook is a great place to live, work, invest and play and by working hard and together we will collectively make it even better!"