Budget deliberations in Armstrong will begin shortly and two councillors have a couple of new projects to potentially add to the request list.
Paul Britton wants to see the city investigate the cost of lighting up three large trees during the Christmas holiday season.
“There’s two big trees downtown and the one big tree at the entrance to town near the caboose,” said Britton. “They should be well lit up.”
Steven Drapala would like to see the city investigate creating a partnership with the North Okanagan-Shuswap School District to do something about the conditions of the city’s playing fields, whose conditions Drapala describe as “terrible.”
“Maybe we can arrange a partnership and they can off-load some of the costs onto the city,” said Drapala. “I think there’s a benefit in us picking up some of that to make them at least usable.”
Chief financial officer Terry Martens asked for requests as deliberations get underway.
Major projects on the books for 2017 include a fire truck replacement, and road reconstruction to Willowdale Drive and Patterson Avenue from Becker Street to the Kindale Developmental Association building.
The latter is scheduled only to have the eastbound lane worked on. Martens said staff is looking at possibly increasing the scope of the project to include the entire roadway.
The total costs of the 2017 projects sit at $2.3 million.
The final budget is expected to be adopted April 10.
Committee members sought
Armstrong is looking for volunteers to fill vacancies on its age-friendly community advisory committee.
The two-year term runs from January 2017 to December 2018.
“The committee meets monthly with a mandate to support better health, improve safety and supporting all ages of vulnerable people to improve their well-being,” said Coun. Linda Werner, community services committee chairperson.
More information on the city is available by contacting city hall or by visiting the city’s website.
Applications are on the website and must be returned to city hall by 4 p.m. Jan. 4.
