Volunteers stepping away from maintaining the foreshore trail could result in new costs to the city.
Salmon Arm municipal council has received a letter from Salmon Arm Bay Nature Enhancement Society president Janet Aitken, informing the city that longtime SABNES volunteers Mike and Pam Saul will no longer be maintaining the trail outhouse or emptying garbage cans. Aitken says the Saul’s made this decision in light of the recent decision by city council to allow dogs on the trail.
Aitken adds a number of other volunteers, who have helped to maintain the trail, have withdrawn their service for the same reason.
Aitken expects the impact will be seen later this summer
“It will be significant as our volunteers contribute many, many hours to the trail maintenance, trimming grass, bush and trees and removing debris from the trail,” says Aitken.
Appended to Aitken’s letter was a memo from city engineering and public works director Rob Niewenhuizen. In it, he explains how, if the city takes over these responsibilities, a $4,500 operational budget would be required. In addition, staff recommends the existing garbage cans be removed and replaced with in-ground containers at either end of the trail.
Staff also recommends the outhouse be serviced twice a week, and that the existing facility be removed and replaced with a permanent structure with a holding tank – at a cost of about $20,000.
Council didn’t comment on staff recommendations, but Coun. Ken Jamieson did credit SABNES and the volunteers who are stepping down. He strongly encouraged others in the community to step up and become members of the volunteer organization.
