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TUESDAY August 14, 2012
Share shed burns down
Proudly serving Williams Lake and the Cariboo-Chilcotin since 1930
VOL. 82. No. 65
$1.34 inc. HST
Water wars
The Cariboo Regional District’s West Chilcotin Landfill share shed in Anahim Lake was burnt down Sunday, Aug. 5. The cause of the fire is not yet known. However, arson is suspected and surveillance camera data is currently being reviewed. Anyone with information on the fire is asked to contact the CRD’s solid waste management department at 250-392-3351 or toll free at 1-800-665-1636. Tips and information reported to the CRD will remain anonymous. The CRD says the abuse and vandalism of share sheds is increasing the maintenance and operating costs to taxpayers throughout the region. The West Chilcotin Share Shed could be replaced, but the CRD needs feedback from community members that a new shed is desired. To provide comments, or for further information about the CRD’s Solid Waste Management program, call 1-800-665-1636, e-mail talktrash@cariboord.bc.ca, or visit cariboord.bc.ca.
Inside the Tribune NEWS Panel visits mine site.
A2
SPORTS Swimmers break records.
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COMMUNITY Children’s art showcased.
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Weather outlook: Showers/ possible thundershowers today, high of 20 C. Sunny Wednesday, high of 25 C.
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Monica Lamb-Yorski photo
Williams Lake RCMP Const. Colby Hendrickson and local coroner Scott McLaughlin have fun spraying kids with water guns while getting bombed with water balloons back during the Boys and Girls Club of Williams Lake and District Street Party held Friday, Aug. 10 at the parking lot and alley in the 100 block of Fourth Avenue South.
Landslide repairs to cost $1M-plus Monica Lamb-Yorski Tribune Staff Writer The cost to repair a process line from the energy plant and a storm water line that were damaged by a slide in the river valley in April will be more than a million dollars, says the city’s acting chief administrative officer. Reporting to city council during a special committee of the whole meeting Aug. 7, Geoff Goodall explained the city will cover the cost of the process line, using surplus funds from the sewer budget, and the project should not cause any financial stress. However, the specific costs of the process line have not been determined.
Prior to the slide in April, the plan for replacing the process and storm water lines was slated for Phase 5 of a five-phase replacement project. However, the slide caused the city to switch priorities and do Phase 5 before completing Phase 3. “The one that does have some significant financial implications is the storm water project,” Goodall says. “We have been approved to use Phase 3 funding for Phase 5.” Phase 3 had a budget of $771,000, which is covered 100 per cent by a grant. Phase 5, however, will cost around $1.1 million, according to the engineers. “The concern is what kind of constraints this is going to put on council in the future. It would appear that
this project easily qualifies for community works funding,” Goodall explained. An additional $350,000 is available in unallocated funds, which means the city may not have to dip into general revenue surpluses to complete the project. “We will know more once the engineering design is completed,” Goodall said. Due to the nature of the project, it will be broken down into two stages — one for the process line and one for the storm water line. Goodall told council there have already been significant challenges with the process line. The piece that was under the river was plugged with sand and debris when the failure occurred, and ini-
tially the city was worried the cost of replacing it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. “In the old days you could just dig right through the river. You can’t do that anymore; you have to auger 10 metres below the river bed. We have since cleaned the old pipe and we’re preparing to do the pressure test on it to make sure that it’s competent. We’re hopeful that it is and we can use it.” There are some challenges augering from the landfill and coming down to the river. Geo-technical drilling is taking place to make sure the augering can be done. The project is still on track and the city is hoping to have it completed by the end of November, Goodall noted.