The water in the Squamish River will eventually be cleaner for fish and people. Council authorized staff to accept a $121,303 proposal from Stantec Consulting for the design and technical services related to ultraviolet disinfection of effluent. The ultraviolet system will kill germs in the effluent and operate in an underground, enclosed chamber. It will cost about $71,000 a year to operate the system once it is up and running.
Downtown expansion cancelled
The Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association is withdrawing its petition to the District of Squamish to expand its existing catchment area, according to a letter from president Glenn Davies submitted to council Tuesday night. Instead, the organization will pursue signing up associate memberships within the community, the letter stated.
At its meeting in November, the group discussed expanding to include Third Avenue, Village Green Way, the Chieftain Centre including Save-on-Foods and Station Square Mall, anchored by Nester’s Market. A planned mail-in vote by members on the matter will not go ahead.
Demystifying Islam
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association is holding a Holy Quran Open House to Demystify Islam in Squamish on Saturday (Jan. 9) from noon to 4 p.m. at Squamish Public Library. The event is part of a nationwide campaign in response to the attacks in Paris by terrorist groups.
The aim of the campaign is to spread peace and demystify Islam and create religious harmony, according to a news release from the association. During this campaign, the youth of Ahmadiyya will hold more than 135 open houses across Canada, the release stated.
Mayor’s lunch set for Jan. 20
The Squamish Chamber of Commerce will host the annual mayor’s luncheon on Wednesday, Jan. 20.
Mayor Patricia Heintzman will give a keynote address to the chamber at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park. The event gets underway at 11:30 a.m. Members and non-members can register in advance online at squamishchamber.com or email [email protected] for information.
Utility rates rising
Council adopted the water rates regulations and water extension bylaw amendment at Tuesday night’s council meeting. This year will see a four-per-cent hike in water rates and a two-per-cent hike for sewer.
According to district staff, the increases are part of incremental hikes that make up for depleted utility reserve funds over the past several years.
Bus service complaints low
Squamish bus riders don’t have many complaints about the transit service in Squamish, according to a recent report in response to a Squamish Chief freedom of information request.
In 2014, there were a total of 10 customer service complaints to BC Transit about service in Squamish, according to the FOI document.
Eight complaints related to the bus driver, four about driver safety, three about driver behaviour and one regarding a fare dispute with a bus driver.
Two complaints involved bus passes being expired.
The transit authority was contacted once in 2014 with a driver compliment.
Squamish has four main bus routes connecting Valleycliffe, Garibaldi Highlands, Garibaldi Estates and Brackendale to downtown Squamish seven days a week.
Dock work at Terminals
The Squamish Terminals east dock rebuild is continuing. Densification will continue through Jan. 31, according to a news release from the Terminals. This work involves densifying the ocean floor to meet seismic building code requirements.
Pile driving, to install 120 steel pipe piles into the ocean floor to support the new dock, will take place from mid-January to mid-April. A bubble curtain will be installed around the pile driving, and the work will be monitored by hydrophone to ensure sound levels are kept within acceptable limits, according to the news release.
Other construction will continue during both day and evening shifts Monday through Saturday until late summer.
Programs for First Nations
The Squamish Nation Trades Centre is offering new courses in the Squamish Valley starting in January. The courses are open to anyone of First Nations descent, with priority given to Squamish Nation members.
Introduction to environmental monitoring begins next week and involves learning how to take samples from soil, water, sediment and living organisms. Introduction to carpentry and construction work begins Jan. 11. For information, call 604-980-7946.
Former CAO starts new job
Former Squamish chief administrative officer Corien Becker, who left her post abruptly in July, has been named interim chief financial officer (CFO) for the City of Powell River.
The Powell River council named her to the role at its meeting on Dec. 17.
She began her new interim position on Monday.
Powel River’s former CFO, Shehzad Somji, has taken a position as secretary-treasurer with the Squamish school district, according to a school district spokeswoman.
Becker, who is originally from Creston, B.C., was hired as CAO in Squamish in June of 2012. At the time of Becker’s Squamish departure, a news release from the district said council had decided to move in a new strategic direction.
