Funds approved
City of Powell River council has approved additional funding of up to $25,000 for installation of power surge protection at Powell River Recreation Complex.
At the April 7 city council meeting, councillor George Doubt said this is to purchase equipment to protect equipment from various power outages and power surges.
“It has been appropriately designed and we need that $25,000 to put it in place and protect the equipment we invest so much money in and depend on,” said Doubt.
According to a staff report, over the last several years, the recreation complex has experienced an increase in mechanical equipment failures as a result of sudden electrical surges typically caused during weather-related or power system transient events that are fast, short-duration disturbances that produce distortions in the electrical system. These failures often force the immediate shutdown or suspension of facility operations until repairs have been completed, according to the report.
Terms renewed
Councillors voted to appoint Ron Fuller, Rod Tysdal and Mark Anderson as directors of Powell River Community Forest for three-year terms, effective April 12. Councillors also confirmed acting mayor Rob Southcott as the duly authorized representative for the city as the sole shareholder, in order to vote at the annual general meeting of the community forest on April 12.
Mayor Dave Formosa said he wanted to thank Fuller and Tysdal, who have been with the community forest basically since day one, and Anderson, who came in a little later, for agreeing to serve for another three years.
“I want to thank them for their past service and dedication to this wonderful corporation,” said Formosa.
Increases proposed
First three readings were given to the draft waterworks regulations and rates bylaw.
Doubt said the draft bylaw changes the annual water fee revenue to the city for 2022, 2023 and 2024. The water fee for a single-family dwelling will go from $330 in 2022, to $360 in 2024. He said the bylaw proposes an increase of $12 in 2022 from the 2019 figure of $318, an increase in 2023 of $15 and a following increase of $15 in 2024.
“This will make sure we have reserve funds in place to maintain the water system,” said Doubt.
Councillor Jim Palm said he asked the chief financial officer if this increase was part of the overall 2022 taxation increase of 6.6 per cent, and that he was informed the waterworks rates were factored into the increase.
“It’s not a hidden tax for our taxpayers,” added Palm.
