Four members of the Castlegar Fire Department and one fire engine were deployed Saturday to assist with the McCormick Creek wildfire east of Salmo, B.C.
“The team performed a number of tasks after they familiarized themselves with the countryside,” said Fire Chief Sam Lattanzio. “Some of the tasks they did were things like pre-planning, strategizing, sprinkler protection … and fire-smarting.”
The team was able to stand down by Sunday at 8 p.m.
Breastfeeding support request
City council has been asked to support World Breastfeeding Week in Castlegar Sept. 30 through Oct. 6.
Nicole Hergert with Castlegar Breastfeeds, a group seeking to promote and re-normalize breastfeeding, spoke at Monday night’s meeting.
“I’m really passionate about creating an environment and a space where people feel comfortable, not just for people who are doing it, but also for the people who are around them,” expressed Hergert.
She emphasized that there is a need for more breastfeeding support within the community.
“Castlegar itself has become such a great place to raise a family, people are moving back here and moving here to raise their small children,” said Hergert. “We want to be able to provide as many supports … both formal and informal, as we can.”
A bit of friendly competition will take place between the cities of Castlegar, Nelson and Trail to kick off the week. On Sept. 30, at 11 a.m. groups in each city will see who can get the most people breastfeeding at the same time.
The City of Castlegar has been asked to consider putting up a breastfeeding welcome sticker at City Hall, support the breastfeeding challenge, host the travelling breastfeeding chair that will be roaming the community during the week and showcase a window display.
The group will be making similar requests of businesses around Castlegar.
Hergert was invited to present her ideas to the committee responsible for approving such requests.
Permits and licenses
The number of building permits issued year-to-date compared to last year is up by 27 to 140. The dollar value is down significantly, but Coun. Bruno Tassone explained that if you remove the amount for the Fortis Operations Centre from last year’s figures, the numbers would be very similar.
Business licenses are also up — 628 this year compared to 604 last year. “Looks like things are starting to roll as far as business in the community,” said Tassone.
Contract awarded
Council awarded a contract to KC’s Environmental Services Inc. for the installation of sanitary sewer inspection chambers at Silverwood Crescent. Their bid of $102,250 was significantly lower than the one submitted by Marwest Industries for $159,908.
Sanitary sewer inspection chambers allow city crews to “determine whether the cause of a blockage originates on the city side of the sanitary sewer service and provides more ready access to unplug that blockage thereby reducing the leakage of sewage into the environment.”
According to council documents, the Silverwood Crescent subdivision was built in the 1960s and city crews have been spending increasing amounts of time maintaining sewer services in the subdivision, finding that many services are being blocked by tree roots. Cleanouts were not installed at property lines at the time of construction.
This is the third phase of a four- to five-year program to bring the system up to date.
