The Town of Osoyoos is purchasing a new beach cleaner. (Cherrington Beach Cleaners)
By Vanessa Broadbent
Osoyoos Times
Before resuming beach cleaning operations next summer, Osoyoos town council wants to look at where services are provided.
A decision to move forward with purchasing a new beach cleaner also sparked conversation about where town operations staff use the cleaner.
Along with public beaches, town staff also clean beaches along “Motel Row.”
Coun. CJ Rhodes mentioned that hotels were previously asked to pay for the service but declined because beach cleaning is funded by the provincial Resort Municipality Initiative obtained by a tax on hotel stays.
The new machine is budgeted to cost $190,000 and will replace the town’s current aging machine, purchased in 2008. Director of operations Jared Brounstein said staff are continually needing to make major and minor mechanical and electrical repairs to the machine.
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“Breakdowns have resulted in inconsistent service levels to the areas in which the town cleans resulting in beach areas not being as clean as we seek to keep them,” he said.
The new machine is expected to last eight to 10 years, possibly five or six if used every day, Brounstein said.
Coun. Jim King noted that having hoteliers in charge of cleaning beaches near hotels on their own could lengthen the machine’s lifespan.
Mayor Sue McKortoff suggested discussing the cleaning locations at a future meeting.
“I think it would be a good idea to look at this issue,” she said.
At the same meeting, council also voted to purchase a new streetsweeper for approximately $350,000.
