Sechelt council is moving forward with plans for a biosolids handling facility.
At their April 13 committee of the whole meeting, councillors decided to send out a request for proposal (RFP) on design and build options for a new biosolids handling facility that includes a layout plan for a complete sewage treatment facility, to be constructed at a later date. They also required that all proposals outline a system that will be free of odour and noise and that the proposed facility be placed on District Lot L.
Lot L is a piece of property that has been purchased by the District at the bottom of Dusty Road in Sechelt.
Chief financial officer Andrea DeBucy told council there is $6 million set aside for the project.
"I can confirm that we've put $6 million in the budget and $3.2 million of that will come from the grant that we have in hand. The remainder, if we need it - $2.8 million - will be coming from a combination of our reserves and our sewer fund," DeBucy said.
A report from the biosolids handling facility subcommittee recommended specific ways to get to a class A biosolids product and suggested those criteria be placed in the RFP process, but other councillors objected.
"I would rather see that left out and wait until we see what comes in with the RFPs because there might be something we've missed," Coun. Ann Kershaw noted.
Coun. Keith Thirkell was concerned about the restriction of a biosolids facility to Lot L, saying that when the property was purchased, it was not intended for a biosolids facility.
"There was no mention of biosolids in one big plant for the entire District of Sechelt going on that property, which I completely oppose. I think we're just going to create another mess like we have at Ebbtide downtown," Thirkell said, noting he would like the District to accept RFPs for other areas as well.
When the vote was called on starting the RFP process, only Thirkell was opposed, saying the site selection limited the process too much.
Council directed staff to hire a project manager to draft the RFP, review the proposals that come in and supervise the project.
Staff noted a member of the public with expertise in the area will sit in on the evaluation of RFPs received.
