Interior Provincial Exhibition barn dance goers can dance longer.
Armstrong council agreed, for a second straight year, to a request from the IPE to extend barn dance hours on the Friday and Saturday nights of the fair from 9:45 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
“Last year was a success with 500 people on the Saturday night and 300 on Friday night,” said IPE general manager Bryan Burns.
“It would be nice to have the extra hour-and-a-half to enjoy the country barn dance atmosphere.”
The late starting time also allows patrons of the IPE rodeo to attend the dance.
Council received no formal complaints about the additional 90 minutes in 2014.
No insurance help
Armstrong’s Medical Loan Cupboard is looking for assistance with insurance coverage.
The non-profit group is given space and phone service at the Hassen Arena by the city.
“The society is seeking opportunities to reduce insurance premiums in the future, and it was suggested to them that combining their coverage with another organization may result in cost savings,” said Armstrong chief administrative officer Melinda Stickney.
The program currently carries insurance for contents, general liability and executive liability at a cost of about $2,000 a year.
Representative Eric Greenwood said all insurance has been renewed and is in place, and that the society is in a “healthy financial position due to donations.”
The society is not eligible under the city’s insurance coverage.
Council voted to continue providing space and phone service, and advised the Medical Loan Cupboard Society to apply for financial assistance next year through the city’s grant-in-aid program if they so choose.
Building booms
Building stats are on the rise.
Armstrong issued 15 residential housing permits in May worth nearly $1.7 million, and two commercial permits totalling $153,000.
In the same month a year ago, there were seven permits issued worth $532,000.
In 2015, the city has issued 28 permits worth $3.3 million, compared to 15 through the same time in 2014 totalling nearly $1.7 million.
Contract awarded
Kelowna-based Aecom has been awarded the contract to create Armstrong’s master water plan.
Aecom was the winning candidate with a bid of just under $49,000.
The plan is expected to be completed in the fall.
