The City is continuing to grapple with the stench from the Sewage Treatment plant off Powerhouse Road.
“This is the No. 1 issue for the City,” Mayor Mark McKee said at last Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
The City is already adding new equipment to the plant’s mechanical headworks to help mitigate the on-again/off-again odour problem. It was hoped that this would be enough to stop the wafting fragrance. However, the bacteria in one of the ponds appear to by dead or dying.
“The current complaint appears to be related to the early warmer weather that rapidly changed conditions within the aerated lagoon,” Mike Thomas, the City’s director Engineering and Development Services said in a report to Council. “The natural biological processes within an aerated lagoon can only be guided, as these are large volumes of sewage with the treatment process through the ponds taking about two weeks.
“Staff are also reviewing potential changes in sewage quality that may have triggered changes within the lagoons. Residents and businesses are reminded that the Sewer Regulation bylaw includes a list of restricted and prohibited materials that must not be discharged to the sanitary system, including chemicals, septic waste, oils and greases, high or low pH liquids.”
The bottom line for residents? Unless you really like the fragrance of Eau de Poo don’t dump these things down your toilet.
This additional problem is going to cost taxpayers $120,000 from the sewer reserves to fix.
Please click here to read Mike Thomas’ report.
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The intersection of Mutas and Victoria Road has long been the bane of local drivers and that’s not likely to lessen with the anticipated construction of a new Petro Canada station-cum-Starbucks on the vacant lot beside McDonalds.
Petro Can developer Gary Johal had asked the City waive a contribution of $167,112 demanded by the City has his contribution to future upgrades to the traffic nightmare that is the Mutas-Victoria Road junction.
“The Victoria/Mutas intersection is a highly visible priority project for the City,” Engineering and Development Services Director Mike Thomas told City Council in a report last Tuesday, May 26.
“Any funds raised through developer contributions or DCCs will reduce the total to be raised through general taxation and/or borrowing. Offsite contributions are common for developments that have impacts on adjacent infrastructure. During the development approval process the applicant and their consultant had been made aware of this offsite contribution requirement several times.
“McDonalds contributed toward the offsite contributions as a result of their expansion in 2012, paying $23,072 or 1.6% of the estimated cost in accordance with the report.”
Please click here to read Mike Thomas’ report.
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The City will not consider buying a new fire truck until next year.
Fire Chief Rob Girard had asked Council to approve an invitation to tender for the purchase of a new pumper truck to replace the outdated 1986 International Superior truck it now uses. The machine is 10 years past its recommended replacement age of 20 years.
A new machine would cost $500,000 and would have to be purchased with outside financing. There are a couple of alternatives, Girard said in a report that includes the business case for buying a replacement truck.
“There are two alternatives available to Council,” the Chief said. “The first alternative is to maintain the status quo with the 1986 International ‘Superior’ Pumper Truck and risk manage accordingly. This alternative did not form my recommendation as this option would have further impacts and downgrades on the Public Fire Classification.
“The second alternative is to seek a used Fire Pumper Truck. This alternative could meet the goals and objectives of this business case but did not form part of my recommendation. Used apparatus are limiting due to their age and the amount of years the City of Revelstoke would gain from them under the Fire Grading Index. The maximum credit in the Fire Insurance Grading Index is 15 years. If a used apparatus were purchased, for example, a 2007 Fire Pumper truck, it would be 9 years old in 2016, and it would only receive full recognition for fire insurance grading purposes for 6 years.”
A 2007 model truck would cost $225,000, Girard said.
Council has decides to defer consideration of this proposal until later this year when it begins work on the 2016-2020 Financial Plan. It is also eager to ask to seek the advice of the Financial Focus Group.
Please click here to read Fire Chief Girard’s proposal and business case.
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Cluck, cluck, cluck! City Council has asked its Administrative Committee to take a fresh look at the never-passed Backyard Chickens Bylaw.
Approximately two years ago both the City’s Environmental Advisory Committee and the North Columbia Environmental Society asked Council to adopt a bylaw that would permit backyard chickens in homeowner’s yards within the city’s boundaries.
In a request to Council last Tuesday the Environmental Advisory Committee noted that while a bylaw was drafted by staff, it was never brought forward to Council.
“The committee is requesting that City Council direct staff to review the draft bylaw and bring it forward to Council for consideration,” it said in a report.
Council directed the Administrative Committee to take a new look at this issue. It will be interesting to see if this Council can lay an egg where the last one would not.
Please click here to read about this request.
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Please click here to read their report in PDF format.
Please click here to read a report to Council by Betty Brown, Interior Health’s Community Health Facilitator.
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City Council is holding a Public Hearing on June 23 to hear comments regarding a proposed subdivision of David and Martha Fehr’s property at 2276 Big Eddy Road.
The public hearing will begin at 3 pm.
Please click here to read a report to Council by Teresa LeRose, the ZCity’s manager of Legislative Services.
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