Support for a grant application by the Osoyoos Airport Development Society and the construction of a water treatment plant were just two of the decisions made by town council on Oct. 19.
The grant application for the airport would allow for a planned extension of the runway to be fully grant-funded.
In the society’s presentation to council, they laid out how the $90,000 grant they had been awarded by the BC Air Access program wasn’t enough for the quotes they had been provided, which totalled $131,050.
Instead of asking the town for the coverage of the difference, they instead wanted the town to support their application to the BC Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP).
The additional funding would allow for the construction of the planned 300-foot extension to the runway, as well as a paved expansion of the apron planes use to turn around, and the installation of tie-down anchors and improved security fencing.
If that grant is unsuccessful, the society will return to council to ask for $20,500, with the society looking to have the remaining funds provided by other stakeholders such as the Osoyoos Indian Band, RDOS and Mount Baldy.
A grant application for a new water treatment and manganese removal facility was also approved by council unanimously, with TRUE Consulting applying on the town’s behalf. As part of the motion, council approved $3.1 million in funding towards the town’s share of the $11.9 million in costs for the plant.
The project would include water main upgrades and would be completed over four years from 2021 to 2024 if the grant application is successful.
READ MORE: E. coli bacteria detected in Osoyoos water system
The plant would bring the manganese content in six of the town’s wells within acceptable standards.
Council also approved the installation of additional fire hydrants for homes in System #9 to the south of the town. The vote was four to three, with councillors C J Rhodes, Brian Harvey and Myers Bennett opposed.
The option to install hydrants within 305 metres of every home was chosen and will cost $153,000 for the 18 additional hydrants. The other options would have cost $451,500 or $706,500, and included costs for additional water main extensions the hydrants would connect to.
The new hydrants would be installed along and west of Highway 97 from Hummingbird Lane to 6th Avenue just north of the border.
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