By Lyonel Doherty
Now is not the time to be spending more than $500,000 on a vactor truck, Oliver town council has decided.
Council is looking at purchasing a truck that will support Public Works, including water and sewer operations.
It was suggested the truck be funded 50 per cent from the general fund, 25 per cent from the water fund and 25 per cent from the sewer utility.
But water councillor Rick Machial expressed his apprehensiveness in spending this kind of money and going into debt during the global COVID-19 crisis.
“I just don’t think it’s the right time,” he said, admitting he was very nervous about the situation.
But Shawn Goodsell, director of operations, said they would be saving money not having to hire a contractor (at $250 per hour) to do the work that the truck can do.
Councillor Petra Veintimilla agreed with Machial, saying it’s not the right time.
“Being cautious is the best way to go,” she said, noting she wouldn’t want to take money out of local economy right now. She suggested revisiting the issue again this fall.
Councillor Aimee Grice also didn’t approve of the purchase, saying it’s time to tighten up the purse strings, adding the Town doesn’t need an additional debt load on top of the Gallagher Lake siphon repair project.
Mayor Martin Johansen said he was in favour of getting the truck but acknowledged that it’s prudent to wait.
The mayor said deferring the purchase will give the Town flexibility to address other issues that come down the road in the next few months.
“If it wasn’t for COVID-19 I would be all for it.”
Council agreed to defer the purchase to a later date.
