Liability has reared its ugly head in downtown Oliver.
Municipal council is looking more closely at a lot the Town recently purchased at 6225 Main Street.
The idea is to lower the cedar hedges and transform the vacant lot into free parking for the public. But Town staff took out the microscope and studied the matter further.
Director of Operations Shawn Goodsell said there is a liability concern regarding the potential of people slipping/falling on the slope and loose gravel leading up to the sidewalk on Main Street.
Goodsell also mentioned there is a concrete half wall with metal protruding out of the top – another liability to be addressed.
“If we are allowing people to use the new lot for a parking area, there could potentially be a lawsuit if someone were to get injured.”
He noted the risks could be mitigated by addressing them for approximately $3,200 (building new stairs, clean up loose rock, cut protruding steel from concrete wall, and erect “park at your own risk” signage).
Council deferred the issue to a subsequent meeting.
