SECONDARY SUITE EXPANSION?: More rentals eyed on island PAGE 6
$1.50
inc. GST
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2022
PUZZLE TIME
VOL. 48 NO. 03
BIUndercurrent
BowUndercurrent www.bowenislandundercurrent.com
Bowen artist Di pieces together new project PAGE 8
Funding agreement reached for Snug Cove sewage upgrades FINANCE PLAN IS LEGALLY SOUND, SAYS MUNICIPALITY ALEX KURIAL
Editor
Lisa Brougham captured her own version of ‘Friday Night Lights’ as the sun went down following a foggy Friday last week. In the foreground a bird snags a fishy catch of the day to start the weekend off on a high note. / Lisa Brougham photo
TUNSTALL BAY
JUST SOLD
The ongoing Snug Cove sewage saga took a big step forward Monday with the approval of a funding plan for upgrades to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The $1.64 million proposal was detailed by engineering director Patrick Graham at last week’s Committee of the Whole meeting. It outlined a series of necessary fixes at the plant to ease its capacity problems, which had become so serious a moratoriumonbuildingpermits fortheCovewasintroduced. This included, much to the dismay of property owners, pausing several active permits. Many of them spoke during the meeting about the impact this has had on their plans. But there was good news for someofthemduringMonday’s Special Council meeting. After referring the plan to the Finance Advisory Committee, the group managed to adjust the proposal to include the five properties with active permits,
1506 WHITE SAILS DRIVE
all on Rivendell Drive. This was managed by opting for a larger equalization tank and deferring some aspects to the next phase of the project. The current work, known as Phase 1, will cover about 500 residents on the Snug Cove system. The trade-offs allowed the price tag to remain the same, thoughitsparkeddebateabout where the money would come from. The recommendation was for $1 million to be taken from the Capital Renewal and Replacement Reserve (CRRR) and the remaining $640,000 from Unappropriated Surplus. Brad Hawthorn, the municipality’s former public works superintendent and engineering and operations director during the 2000s, wrote a letter and addressed council to express his belief this approach violated municipal and provincial laws. Hawthorn said general taxpayer funds were ineligible for use toward local service areas, and that the Snug Cove Sewer Reserve fund should be used instead. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
$1,498,000
With limited supply of active listings on Bowen Island, now is the time to list and take advantage of our LISTING INCENTIVE! Touch base with us for a free market evaluation. Kim Whittall: (604) 720-3659 | Sean Whittall: (604) 880-9400 www.WhittallRealEstate.com The strength of teamwork... the reputation for results.