Build Canada Grant
The City of Kimberley continues to chip away at infrastructure improvements, both in the ground and in public facilities.
The City will once again be applying to the Build Canada Fund for financial assistance for the Kimberley Drinking Water Loss Management project.
This involves pressure reducing stations to cut down leaks and water loss in some of the city’s aging pipes.
The City applied for the grant last year but were turned down.
“I still can’t believe we were turned down last year,” said Mayor Don McCormick. “It’s a great project. However, second time’s a charm.”
New Civic Centre lights
City Council also approved an expenditure of no more than $38, 921 for new LED lighting for the Civic Centre.
This is a project included in the 2016 capital projects. Installation of LED lighting will save the City of Kimberley approximately $80,000 over 20 years.
Building permits
Building report permits are up in the first three months of the year, says McCormick. In addition to that, values of those permits has doubled. “It goes to show the impact new housing starts have,” he said.
Spring cleanup
Council received a letter from a visitor who was none to impressed with the state of the Platzl this spring.
“We walked in the Platzl and we were greatly disappointed by the general lack of neatness & is very untidy. It almost felt like a ghost town to me,” the letter says. “This town needs a good clean up session. Seeing so many shops/restaurants closed made us wonder what was going on in this once colourful town.”
Coun. Bev Middlebrook says the letter concerned her. She too had taken guests for a walk in the Platzl a few weeks ago and said she was walking in ankle deep gravel.
“As soon as the snow melts, we should be cleaning up the Platzl,” she said.
Coun. Nigel Kitto said that other towns are in similar shape at this time of year.
“There is a community clean up next week,” he said. “I think it’s a timing thing more than anything.”
McCormick noted there was more gravel this year, and there were issues with the sweeper.
“But we rely on tourism. That’s no excuse for not putting our best foot forward. The sweeper will be ready for next year.”