Vavenby transfer station will get reduced number of hours – but Wells Gray Country (Area A) director Tim Pennell was unsuccessful in getting the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board to define to staff what those hours will be.
Changes to the regional district's solid waste management facilities was one of the items on the agenda during a TNRD board meeting held at the Clearwater Legion Hall on Aug. 22.
The board decided that the McLure and Monte Lake transfer stations will be closed.
The Agate Bay transfer station will continue to operate on a seasonal basis from May to September.
When the discussion got to the Vavenby transfer station, however, Pennell asked that any reduction be no more than 50 per cent of the present hours.
With the station presently open 24 hours per week in winter and 30 hours per week in summer, that would mean a minimum of 12 hours and 15 hours.
Several of the other directors, however, didn't seem to have much sympathy with Pennell's point of view. A number of them have seen transfer stations closed in their areas in the TNRD's ongoing efforts to consolidate its solid waste program, and the Wells Gray Country's amendment failed to pass.
Move from B to A
In the minutes of the July 18 board of directors meeting (released during the Aug. 22 meeting) it was reported that Thompson Headwaters (Area B) director Willow MacDonald had advised that there are eight properties on Lost Creek Road that are in Area B even though they are accessed through Vavenby. They would more naturally be grouped in with Area A, she felt.
Director for Area A Tim Pennell agreed and the TNRD board approved unanimously a motion that staff initiate the process to adjust the Area A and Area B boundaries so that all eight properties are within Area A.