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Wind storm not a problem for parks staff

SCRD

Staff was able to keep up with storm damage complaints coming into the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) in early December, parks services manager Carolyn Mortensen reported at the Dec. 11 community services committee meeting.

“Specifically in Area A, we had the staff checking trails and parks for water damage and fallen trees,” Mortensen said.

Staff also responded to flooding in the Whispering Firs area during the subtropical storms that hit the Coast.

“We got some great letters from the community that it was really, really critical for their house and property for that to be dealt with, so they are very grateful,” Mortensen said.

Recreation report

Many Coasters have taken advantage of the new My Pass since it was introduced in September, recreation services manager Bruce Bauman said during his verbal report.

The pass entitles the holder to unlimited admission to drop-in activities at any of the five recreation facilities on the Coast as well as free locker tokens at the pools and free skate rentals at the arenas.

Bauman said that a full report on the program will come in early 2015, but noted that in November alone the SCRD saw an additional 3,000 visits at their recreation facilities, which was attributed to My Pass.

“We went from 18,000 in the month of November [2013] to 21,000 visits in the month of November [2014] in our recreation centres,” Bauman said.

Trail groomer

During budget talks in January, directors will discuss purchasing a new trail groomer that can be used at Dakota Ridge as the old one needs replacing even though it’s not yet fully paid for.

Currently the SCRD owns a PB 100 for grooming the ski trails on Dakota Ridge, which has done the job well for nine years. It’s now in need of replacement, but the SCRD won’t be finished paying for the machine until 2016.

Sechelt director Bruce Milne brought up the discrepancy during the Dec. 11 community services committee.

“I don’t want to see us buy things that aren’t paid for before replacement,” he said.

Directors moved the item to budget discussions in 2015.