The District of Sechelt will spend up to $10,000 to install wireless Internet access points atop light posts in downtown Sechelt at the urging of Sechelt Innovations Ltd. (SIL).
A report on the project, presented at the April 9 committee of the whole meeting, showed that if the access points were installed Sechelt could offer free wireless Internet throughout the downtown core.
“If we want to attract a high tech business we must show them that we are innovative, that we are actually prepared to be on the cutting edge and we believe that the wifi is a great indication of this,” said Dave Jephcott of SIL at the committee meeting. “The next smallest community in Canada that has this is Moose Jaw at 35,000 [residents].”
If successful, the project could be used as a model for other small communities.
Coun. Darnelda Siegers noted that she heard from one community member who was afraid the new access points would create too many “waves” in the downtown core.
“Currently there are a number of businesses who are already doing this and this would actually reduce what’s being put out in the community,” Siegers said, noting businesses and community members alike could use the free wireless service.
Councillors were in favour of earmarking $10,000 from the community enhancement capital project budget for the installation, which is a fraction of the project’s total $113,269 cost.
The remaining money for the wireless project will come from grants and SIL’s budget, Mayor John Henderson said.
Music in the Park
Sechelt will launch Music in the Park this year, council decided at their April 16 regular council meeting.
The summer series will offer free live music experiences in Snickett Park between June 28 and Aug. 30.
Two weekends during this timeframe would be excluded: the weekend of Aug. 9, which is when the Festival of the Rolling Arts is on, and Aug. 16, which is when the Festival of the Written Arts, Power of Paint and Hackett Park craft fair run.
Council directed staff to figure out what kind of sound equipment will be needed for the endeavour and said they’d allocate money from their downtown revitalization and beautification fund for the purchase of sound equipment.
Borrowing
On April 16 council voted unanimously in favour of securing bridge financing for the new sewage treatment plant until the $7.5 million loan from the Green Municipalities Fund (GMF) comes in.
The District will get a line of credit for $6.5 million at an interest rate of 1.73 per cent, which will be paid back with GMF funds after the project is complete.
