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Fencing awarded to Tri-West

Fencing at the cemetery, signage on the highway and plans for a new boiler get hurried along at Greenwood City Hall.
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Greenwood council held a special meeting on Friday, July 4 to deal with a few pressing matters. A fencing project at the cemetery was at a standstill until council chose a winning quote, and reservations had to be made for three hotel beds during the UBCM convention in Vancouver this September, but council had only budgeted for two people to go.

On the fence issue council had the choice of steel, PVC or a cedar split rail fence. In the end council opted for what they saw as the option with the lowest maintenance and voted to approve a quote by Tri-West Fence and Gate for $32,586 for a four foot high steel fence. The cemetery fence was destroyed by a windstorm last August

Staff had recommended the split-rail fence quoted by local business Son Ranch at $19,050 but decided the ongoing maintenance would eat up the savings over the life of the fence.

The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary Cemetery Function is providing over $18,000; the city is providing $13,000 - $7,000 from the Cemetery Trust Fund and $6,000 from a trust that was opened after a donation by the Snow Falling on Cedars production company some years ago.

The fence will be installed by late August, in time for a planned dedication on Aug. 29 of a new headstone for the grave of John Jarrett.

Mayor Nipper Kettle said he had talked to Area E Director Bill Baird and he was told the regional district could fund the $1,586 shortfall.

“Bill Baird wants it done,” Kettle said. “I explained to him the cost of the three options and asked what if we opted for the steel and it came in $2,000 more. He said he has no problem with that. He said he is sure there is money in the contingency fund. As long as it is not $5,000 or $6,000 over the budget, we can get it done.”

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Council received a quote of $4,150 from Alpine Signs and Graphics of Christina Lake for signage that will be placed by the roadside smokestacks on each end of town, as well as signs to be located a few kilometres both north and south of the city.

After the Greenwood Economic Development Committee dance earlier this year the city currently has just over $3,200 set aside for the signs and the balance will come from the advertising budget.

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Administrator Robin Dalziel reported the BC Safety Authority inspector has placed red stickers on the City Hall furnace. Dalziel said the inspector was not happy that a list of recommendations he’d made two years ago had been ignored. “He was ticked off that the city hadn’t responded. Pure and simple,” said Dalziel.

The administrator told council a request for quotes had been drafted and approved by the inspector and three contractors have already visited the site.

Kettle thanked Dalziel for his work on the file and said the new furnace will be paid for with gas tax funds that the city has in the bank. A new boiler system will be in city hall by fall.

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Council voted to revisit their earlier decision that only two representatives from Greenwood would attend the Union of BC Municipalities Convention this fall. At a May meeting it had been agreed that Councillor Darla Ashton and Kettle would attend, but Kettle said the administrator had also expressed an interest in going.

Kettle said that Dalziel should go as there are several important meetings as well as networking opportunities during the convention.

In the end it was agreed the city would send three representatives—Ashton, Kettle and Dalziel.