Wednesday November 27, 2013 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST INcluded
Out of place in the garden Police and ambulance crews respond to a two-vehicle accident Sunday, Nov. 24 at 11:15 a.m. at the intersection of Shuswap Street and 10th Avenue SE. A driver failed to yield to the oncoming vehicle at the stop sign, which caused the collision. The pickup truck ended up going through a fence and into the Community Garden, while the car knocked out a speed sign and struck a residence in the housing complex on the opposite side of the street. The occupants of both vehicles were taken to hospital where they were treated for minor injuries. The offending driver was issued a ticket for failing to yield. James murray/OBSeRVeR
Recycling rejection costs taxpayers Provincial program: Council opts out of plan which would have given residents a $34 rebate. By Lachlan Labere OBSeRVeR STAFF
For Salmon Arm council, a $37.25 per household incentive to enter into a new, provincewide recycling program didn’t outweigh the risk inherent to the contract. Back in August, council agreed to sign a letter of intent to take part in a program being set up by Multi Material Bc (MMBc), a non-profit stewardship organization created by industry to fulfill B.c.’s recycling regulation related to printed material and packaging. On Monday, however, when it came to signing on the dotted line of the actual contract, a council majority – Mayor Nancy cooper and couns. Alan Harrison, Ken Jamieson and Marg Kentel, voted to opt out. MMBc’s program, set to begin May 19, would have worked in conjunction with the city’s exist-
ing recyclable collection program, with a somewhat expanded list acceptable materials, including Tetrapacks and clamshell packaging. As part of its five-year contract with MMBc, the city would have received an annual financial incentive of $37.25 per participating household (6,000 in total), $2.50 of which would have gone towards administration and 75 cents to education. The remaining $34 would have been distributed to participating households in the form of a rebate on their annual recycling bill. While city staff were supportive of council signing the letter of intent, they recommended against signing the actual contract. city engineering and public works director Rob Niewenhuizen explained that, overall, staff thought they could work the proposed program within the contracts the city has for its current curbside program, and that most operating
concerns could be mitigated and Niewenhuizen later noted that are “sort of low risk.” But he add- if the city doesn’t sign the coned staff are also concerned with tract by the end of the November, language in the contract that pos- as required by MMBc, the city’s es a significant risk and liability to recycling program would continthe city. He explained there’s an ue status quo. ‘entire contract’ clause that would coun. chad eliason said he felt negate all written and verbal risk to the city would be minimal, agreements already and he supported the in place between city signing the conMMBc and the city. tract. Both he and In addition, there’s an coun. debbie canindemnity clause that non said the amount Niewenhuizen said the city would rewould open the city ceive for public eduto liability outside of cation was a crucial its control. component. Regarding the vercoun. Alan HarChad Eliason bal/written agreerison, however, reaments, Niewenhuizen soned the cash incenin favour of suggested MMBc is tive isn’t worth the contract reluctant to acknowlpotential risk. edge these as they’d “If we give up have to do the same for every $34 per household, that’s about community, and wouldn’t have $204,000… and it sounds like time to re-word every contract by a lot of money, but if something May 19. goes wrong and we get involved
This week The Salvation Army needs help with its kettle campaign. See details on page A22. SilverBacks super fan Gerry Thomas helps keep the players’ spirits high. See story on A23.
in some type of legal problem, we already know that $204,000 is not very much money,” said Harrison. Asked if there is an opt-out clause to the contract, Niewenhuizen said there is a 180-day notification clause that could end the contract without penalty. In addition to their recommendation against signing the contract, staff also recommended another motion by council to seek to extend the signing deadline with MMBc, as well as forwarding a report to the union of B.c. Municipalities, so they can “continue to intervene in this issue and hopefully resolve it before the next opt-in deadline.” council supported both recommendations, as well as an amendment suggested by Jamieson to include May 2014 as signing deadline with the hope that Salmon Arm could still come onboard if a more favourable contract was presented.
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............... A8 Sports................A23-A26 Arts & Events ... A27-A30 Time Out................... A31 Vol. 106, No. 48, 52 pages