The Town of Gibsons is buying a wheeled loader at a cost of $121,000.
Director of finance Ian Poole reported to council July 3 that staff had located an ideal replacement for a piece of the Town's aging fleet.
Originally the Town had allotted $145,000 for the purchase.
The money was saved when staff members found they could buy a slightly used model, allowing the Town to pocket the difference in its capital reserves.
"It's basically identical to the one they were trying out. It's just a year older, but it had very few hours on the machine so the warranty is essentially as new," Poole said.
The Town has used their wheeled loader primarily to keep green waste and public works operations on the move. While the machine has been licensed to operate on public roads, its use has been mostly restricted.
"It pretty much stays in the top works yard. Because we have a gravel pit up there, it's often trading out gravel from the quarry out there," Poole said. "It's primarily used to keep the green waste transfer operational.
Poole said the price included HST on the purchase price and the value of a trade-in.
As an expensive item the Town knew would need replacing, the old wheeled loader had been put off from its intended year of replacement.
"It always makes me happy when staff find something cheaper than was budgeted," said Coun. Gerry Tretick.
Annual report
The Town of Gibsons 2011 annual report was set to appear before the July 17 council before adoption.
The 81-page document offers a financial breakdown of each of the Town's various departments, the 2012-14 strategic plan, council remuneration, audited financial statements and other pieces of information for community residents.
Also included in the document is a running list of the activities undertaken by the Town's various departments in 2011.
The document was also available on-line for download.
Multi-family residential zone
Council gave first reading to a bylaw that could create a new type of zoning in the Town.
"The intent of the RM-6 zone is to permit townhouses and apartment use, at low to medium densities," the bylaw read. "Specifically, to permit such use on smaller parcels within 'Sub-Area I' on the southeast side of South Fletcher Road between School Road and Holland Lands."
Ferry traffic
Chief administrator Warren Waycheshen received a letter from Powell River - Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons, who responded to safety concerns related to peak hour line-ups for the Langdale ferry.
"I had a response from Thomas Chhun, operations manager at the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, who responded on behalf of the Minister that a meeting has occurred," wrote Simons.
According to the MLA, B.C. Ferries intended to use the overflow parking lot to address high traffic during long weekends.
"Staff is keeping an eye on this issue," added Simons.
