Council approves transport
City of Powell River council approved $5,275 from the city’s community forest reserve to help pay the costs of transporting the Anderson steam-sawmill collection from Burnaby to Powell River at its April 6 meeting.
The collection of logging equipment, which Powell River Historical Museum and Archives was unable to buy in 1976, was sold to Burnaby Village Museum.
Long-time Cranberry resident Andy Anderson used the equipment at his mill in Mowat Bay; it dates back to the 1870s.
Council previously approved $12,000 for the collection’s purchase. All parts of the collection have been returned to Powell River except the last, largest piece.
Councillor CaroleAnn Leishman told council the collection’s return has been taking place over the past two years and the last section requires heavy-duty machinery to move, which could become available at any time.
Leishman said if the money was not available for transport now, it may delay the return of the collection by another year. She said museum staff hoped to have the collection back and assembled in time for the start of the summer tourism season.
The grant application was one of several the community forest board put forward for council’s approval. The others will be decided in May.
Approves funding applications
Council gave city staff approval to apply to the BC government for grants to improve Powell River Airport and continue with the third phase of the city’s cycling-infrastructure plan. Staff will submit an application to the 2016 BC Air Access Program for improvements to the airport terminal building and parking lot. The city will put $264,000 from its Community Works Gas Tax reserve fund towards the airport project. Staff will also submit an application to Bike BC to fund phase three of the municipal cycling plan, which will continue to expand the city’s bike lanes.
Requests BC Transit look at bus service
Council approved a request for BC Transit to consider including adding bus service to Powell River Recreation Complex in the Crown corporation’s 2017/2018 budget. Currently, riders wishing to visit the complex are required to walk down a steep hill from Joyce Avenue and across a bridge to the complex parking lot.
Approves committee terms of reference
Council approved the terms of reference for its Grant Funding Advisory select committee, which will be reviewing the city’s policies and bylaws regarding grant funding and providing recommendations to the council’s finance committee.
Approves herring resolution for conference
Council approved submitting a late resolution to the 2016 Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities convention requesting the federal government create a West Coast herring recovery plan.
