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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2020 | Volume 33 No. 47
MASK MANDATE? TODAY’S WEATHER
SLOAN RIPS PGA TOUR Merritt pro golfer says policy on wives on course needs review
They will need to be worn at times in schools
Sun and clouds High 12 C Low -1 C
SPORTS/A30
NEWS/A3
CITY PAYROLL IN 2019 ROSE BY $1.1 MILLION JESSICA WALLACE STAFF REPORTER jessica@kamloopsthisweek.com
ALLEN DOUGLAS/KTW FILE In April, Interior Health set up a COVID-19 testing station for the city’s homeless behind the Kamloops United Church downtown. Chauni Johnson of Interior Health makes her way to the spot where her colleagues were setting up.
COVID-19 and homeless population SO FAR, FEARS OF DECIMATION OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC HAVE NOT MATERIALIZED TODD SULLIVAN LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE todd@kamloopsthisweek.com
In the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, there was concern that the vulnerable homeless population could be affected more than others. To date, that doesn’t seem to have been the case. Dr. Albert de Villiers, Interior Health’s chief medical health officer, said that it’s difficult to track those sort of statistics as people aren’t required to identify them-
selves as homeless during the testing process, noting most tests are done at locations being used to test people from all walks of life. The initial concern around the homeless population was that it would be difficult for them to self-isolate, which would become a bigger problem were someone to become infected. “If they don’t have a home, it’s an issue,” de Villiers said. As a result, Interior Health has worked with municipalities to ensure there are
spaces available where those infected among the homeless population can be isolated. “To make sure we can actually put these people up somewhere so they don’t have to be out on the street any more,” de Villiers said. When asked why the homeless communities in B.C. haven’t been hit as hard by COVID-19 as initially predicted, de Villiers speculated on some reasons. See LOW NUMBERS, A6
The City of Kamloops’ payroll increased by $1.1 million in 2019 compared to 2018, equating to a 1.7 per cent hike. The city has released its annual statement of financial information, dubbed the SOFI report, which provides input into staff and council remuneration, as well as payments to suppliers for goods and services. The report noted city wages increased overall, to $64.6 million in 2019 from $63.5 million in 2018, due to negotiated annual increases as well as one-time retirement payouts. In addition, $11.1 million was paid out in benefits, totalling $75.6 million in 2019. City employees earning less than $75,000 annually made up slightly less than half of the wages, at $29.1 million, compared to employees
CITY’S TOP EARNERS 2019 • CAO David Trawin: $286,000 • Director of community and protective services Byron McCorkell: $230,000 • Director of civic operations Jen Fretz: $212,000 • Director of development, engineering and sustainability Marvin Kwiatkowski: $208,000 • Director of corporate services Kathy Humphrey: $197,000 • Director of human resources and safety Lori Rilkoff: $170,000 • Kamloops Fire Rescue Chief Mike Adams: $165,000
paid in excess of that threshold, earning $34.9 million. The number of staff who made more than $75,000 increased last year. In 2019, 344 staffers were paid more than $75,000; in 2018, See FIREFIGHTERS, A6
WATCH THE RESULTS!
Go to facebook.com/kamloopsthisweek on Wednesday, Aug. 26 to view our special broadcast of the winners of the 2020 Kamloops This Week Readers Choice Awards