Kelowna Daily Courier:
– The 2009 budget does not provide for any increase in RCMP staffing, but total spending on the force is still rising from $16.1 million to $17.1 million. There is an increase in wages, as well as funding for additional civilian employees, in records management and crime analysis.
– As well as the four new firefighters, that department gets a mechanic and extra dispatcher, and a new pumper truck.
– At a projected cost of $11 million, construction of the Glenmore bypass is the single most expensive transportation project. The project involves construction of a new link between Dallas and Scenic Roads.
– The previously-announced extension of the Rails with Trails corridor will see a total of $5.2 million spent building a pathway for non-motorized vehicles between Sexsmith Road and UBCO, along the railway tracks. The provincial government will pay half.
– Improvements to Highway 97 between Gordon Drive and Highway 33, such as the addition of a third westbound lane, and sidewalk and landscaping upgrades, will cost the city $2.3 million. The provincial and federal governments are also contributing.
– The airport is essentially a self-financing operation, with revenues from fees charged to airlines, passengers and commercial leaseholders. The full-time complement of workers at the airport will rise from 34 to 36 this year. A half-million dollars has been set aside towards the possibility of building an interchange at Highway 97 and Airport Way, which Coun. Brian Given estimated could cost about $7 million.
– In discussion over whether to hire an eighth communications person at City Hall, Mayor Sharon Shepherd revealed none of them are routinely engaged in writing her speeches.
“I was surprised to discover that you write your own speeches,” Coun. Robert Hobson said, describing the speeches as “excellent.”
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