Observer SALMON ARM
Wednesday April 18, 2012 www.saobserver.net $1.25 HST INCLUDED
Spring cleaning Autumn Bidoka has some help cleaning up the flower bed in front of their house from her young son Eli. The pair are getting ready for this year’s garden.
JAMES MURRAY/OBSERVER
Buy local hits agenda Salmon Arm: Mayor, council review purchasing policies, invite input. By Martha Wickett OBSERVER STAFF
The issue seems to have more sides to it than a pair of dice. Council discussed the city’s procurement policy that deals with tenders, quotations and requests for proposals at Monday’s meeting of the city’s development and planning services committee. No decision on changes resulted, but the policy will be posted on the website so the public can view it. Mayor Nancy Cooper told the Observer the policy will be updated as deemed necessary and appropriate after all comments from council and the public are reviewed. Coun. Ken Jamieson began the meeting’s discussion, which was put on the agenda following criticisms when the city’s website redesign contract was awarded to a Kansas company. Jamieson said his con-
cern is that local companies have access to the tendering process, so they can respond if they think they can do the job. He said the smaller contracts – $5,000 to $10,000 – are the ones local companies survive on, and cause the greatest concern. He also suggested the figures be increased, to reflect rising costs and prices. Carl Bannister, the city’s chief administrative officer, said staff regularly consider local businesses. “I think it’s fair to say, staff always try to consider local companies. There have been cases over the years where there’s simply nobody to provide the service locally.” Coun. Chad Eliason noted there’s a balance required between the best value for the taxpayer and the wish to employ local companies. He said perhaps it would be possible to have a percentage range added that would
This week And the winners are... Salmon Arm’s Launch-a-preneur hands out hardware. See A8. Mother and daughter share glory as national ringette champions. See story on page A17.
allow a local company to win a bid. Bannister said staff don’t recommend a percentage for local businesses, noting that the ‘shop local’ issue comes up routinely. “What happens is, external contractors will stop bidding if they know we have this policy. In the end they will stop bidding.” Coun. Denise Reimer asked about the policy for advertising contracts. Bannister said it is discretionary because of the staff time and resources it would take to advertise every bid. Coun. Alan Harrison agreed the issue is about communication – that people know about and have the chance to bid. Reimer asked, in the case of the website, if a company would have had the opportunity to get together and collaborate See Policy on page A2
Semi driver to face impaired charges Salmon Arm RCMP are saying a man found driving a semi-tractor trailer on the TransCanada Highway was so grossly intoxicated he had to be held in cells. A witness called the police at 1 a.m. April 13 to report the large truck was being driven erratically on the highway. An officer stopped the vehicle on the TransCanada Highway near 24th Street SE. The 47-year-old male truck driver from Surrey failed a roadside screening device and was taken to the local detachment, where he refused to provide samples of his breath. Due to his intoxicated condition, the man was held in custody until sober. The man was already issued a 24-hour driving prohibition, a violation ticket for open liquor in his vehicle and an administrative driving prohibition. Police are recommending further criminal charges to Crown counsel.
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............... A8 Sports............... A17-A21 Arts & Events ... A22-A24 Time Out................... A25 Vol. 105, No. 16, 48 pages