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No consultation, claims village

Midway council will revisit a request from owners of The Spot gas bar to purchase some village-owned property that would allow upgrades.
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At their regular meeting on June 2, Midway council voted to send a letter to Canada Post expressing disappointment for the lack of consultation in the decision to close the Midway post office on Saturdays.

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Mayor Randy Kappes declared a conflict and stepped out of the room when a letter from his parents, Peter and Merle Kappes, was introduced to council.

At their May 19 meeting council had turned down the two options presented by the gas station owners that would see the village sell them either all or a portion of Palmerston Avenue in front of The Spot. Instead council had suggested that the business owners apply to the Board of Variance for a relaxation of setback requirements.

The Kappes responded with a letter saying their original two options present their most favourable opportunities for future development and improvement of the business.

The owners of the gas station are planning to upgrade their pump island and underground fuel piping to modern standards and would like to move the pump island south from the current location to allow better traffic flow on the north side. They also want to relocate the diesel pump farther away from the highway. The small size of the lot that the pumps are located on and the current setback requirements make it difficult for them.

The letter asked council to reconsider their May 17 decision or suggest a course of action that provides enough room to make the upgrades possible. Council voted to both reconsider the issue and to invite the proponents to meet with council on Wednesday, June 4 to discuss it.

Councillor Gary Schierbeck suggested that even if the street allowance changed hands, street access could be ensured by an easement. “They get to move their pumps over, possibly build a canopy and make the place look better,” he said.

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Council instructed staff to draft a letter of support for the Midway Seniors in their endeavour to get a 2015 New Horizons for Seniors Grant for upgrades to the building. They hope to replace all exterior windows and doors and look into one or two getting a mini-split heat pump/air exchange air conditioners for the centre.

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Administrator Penny Feist reported that a new village website is almost complete and should be live sometime this week—online at midwaybc.ca/