Increasing costs are driving up the price of repaving streets in need of attention.
Alpine Paving negotiated a forty-cent per square metre increase in its paving costs with the DOS for the summer paving program.
Council approved the increase and according to a DOS staff report, this is the first paving cost increase to the DOS in the last seven years.
The staff looked into the proposed cost increase and found the rate charged by Alpine Paving is 20 per cent less than the amount paid by municipalities in the Lower Mainland.
The DOS will pay $6.24 per square metre of asphalt.
The paving company plans to redo more than 20 streets this season.
Downtown recycling spots identified
Downtown recyclers complained when their recycling bins were removed and DOS Council responded by asking the staff to find an appropriate location for a new drop off area.
Gord Prescott, the manager of operations, reported to Council that two locations were being investigated.The preferred location is on a small triangle property north of the B.C. Hydro substation on Loggers Lane. The plot of land is adjacent to the rail tracks.
The other location being considered is a small vacant triangular property north of Save-On-Foods. He said that property is less desirable because it is close to a sidewalk and a commercial truck access road.
Following discussion about recycling issues Downtown, the members of Council voted to direct DOS staff to investigate launching a curbside recycling collection pilot project for the Downtown.
EDO position remains open
There are no immediate plans to recruit a new economic development officer (EDO) for Squamish. That was the word this week from Acting Mayor Sonja Lebans.
She said the Council discussed the topic of replacing outgoing EDO Lee Malleau, who took a job in Richmond. The discussions took place before Mayor Ian Sutherland took his summer vacation.
Lebans said the discussions will pick up when the mayor returns. In the meantime, other municipal employees are taking on EDO functions.
Mamquam Blind Channel rewatering reconfirmed
Reintroducing better water flow in the Mamquam Blind Channel is moving ahead. This was confirmed for Council by DOS environmental coordinator Chessy Langford and Edith Tobe of the 樱桃视频River Watershed Society.
Recent replacements of the culverts under Buckley Avenue and Loggers Lane have helped improve the channel as a fish habitat. Langford reported juvenile Coho salmon inhabited the culvert below Buckley Avenue this year. She said poor water quality prevented fish from occupying the channel in the past.
Further water quality improvements are expected when water from the Mamquam River is diverted into the system.
Council voted to consider contributing more money to the rewatering initiative.
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