Detour In Downtown

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon Pete McIntyre March 19, 2018 09:29 am

Motorists can expect a detour in downtown Vernon, which started today, and will last some time. The City says the intersection of 30th Street and 32nd Avenue will be closed for several weeks, to complete road and utility work. Businesses in the construction area will be accessible during construction.

Vernon Ice Rinks Meet Upgraded Safety Regs

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 Beach Radio Vernon Tom Mark January 17, 2018 08:45 am

New safety regulations come into effect Friday for facilities that use ammonia in refrigerants, such as ice rinks and curling rinks. Among the requirements is a stipulation that the facilities have to be staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with an ” appropriately qualified” person. Rob Singer, Vernon’s Arena’s Operations Coordinator says Vernon is exempt from that ruling because it meets a special risk assessment. “We’re visited by Technical Safety BC yearly, and that’s not just Kal Tire, that’s Kal Tire Place3, Civic Arena and Priest Valley Arena.” Vernon has a 24/7 monitored system. Whenever the public is in the facilities, a certified staff member is on hand. During off hours, an alarm system automatically notifies staff. “Annually we go through a maintenance procedure. What we call planned maintenance or P-M program. We use a certified contractor for all of our work and our plants are always maintained to the highest degree of safety.” The new rules are aimed at preventing a tragedy similar to that which occurred in Fernie where three men died after an ammonia leak.

Driverless legislation pushed

Darren Handschuh - CASTANET Dec 21, 2017 / 3:07 pm | Story: 214639

The BC Conservatives think the province should take the wheel when it comes to driverless cars. Scott Anderson, interim leader of the BC Cons, believes British Columbia should be at the forefront of the coming transportation revolution by proactively introducing framework legislation to allow autonomous vehicles on our roads. The party proposes legislation to allow autonomous vehicle testing on B.C. streets, similar to the legislation enacted in Ontario, but further reaching, as in the case of Virginia, where autonomous vehicles can be tested in real-world conditions. According to Anderson, automakers and some technology companies hope to begin deploying driverless vehicles around 2020, and at least one manufacturer of light autonomous vehicles is ready for deployment as early as next year. In terms of heavy trucking, Loblaw Companies Ltd. has already pre-ordered 25 electric self-driving trucks from Tesla. The autonomous programming software is already installed in them, but dormant because there is no legislation for its use. Meanwhile, as of 2017 33 US states have introduced autonomous vehicle legislation and 21 states have actually passed legislation related to autonomous vehicles. "We are at the cusp of a revolution in transportation that will rival the transition from horse to automobile in importance," said Anderson. "Autonomous vehicles are coming far faster than we think, and coupled with the cheap, clean energy that Site C and other development projects will produce, these technologies will revolutionize our existence...everything from our use of streets to how we work and live will be impacted." Autonomous vehicles are expected to save lives, lower insurance costs, and reduce injuries. Various studies have found that human error is the culprit in between 90-97 per cent of crashes, and a 2014 study found that U.S. traffic crashes cost society $836 billion annually.

Business blasts road plan

by Kate Bouey - CASTANET Mar 13, 2017 / 4:13 pm

 Drivers can expect long delays and an extended construction time on Kalamalka Lake Road following Vernon city council's decision to opt for single lane, alternating traffic during the major, $3 million road overhaul. The decision was meant to appease businesses in the area who were worried about a plan to close a section of the road for 12-to-16 weeks, but it did not. The alternative okayed by council will still mean a shorter, six-to-eight week road closure between Browne Road and the border with Coldstream but will add lengthier, eight-to-20 minute delays for drivers and a much longer construction period, between 20-to-24 weeks long. It will also add $279,500 to the cost. “I'm going to go through some tough times. I hope they understand that,” said Dave Straughan of Uncle Dave's Pizza at the Alpine Centre, adding that some of his staff took the bus to work and wondered how they would cope with the construction schedule. “We're taxpayers and maybe we shouldn't all pay our taxes,” fumed Andrea Sanzana of Mission Accomplished at the Alpine Centre. Coun. Scott Anderson's proposal to consider a 24-hour, seven-day a week construction schedule “to minimize the impact” was widely cheered by the 20 or so business owners in council chambers on Monday. “The shorter we make it, the better,” Anderson said. “There won't be jackhammering at night.” However his motion was not seconded. While Coun. Juliette Cunningham, a business owner herself, expressed sympathy she also pointed out that a 24/7 operation would affect the people living in 180 residential units along the road. “There are a lot of residents along there and they would be impacted more than anyone,” Cunningham said. “To deal with 24/7 construction, you can't sleep at night and that's a huge one for me.” Cunningham urged businesses to work with clients. “If you work with your clients and educate them about the best way to get to your business, they will come and find you.” Work required in the closure area includes storm sewer construction, embankment excavation, path and road reconstruction, staff said.
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KALAMALKA LAKE ROAD TRANSPORTATION PROJECT - COLDSTREAM BORDER TO 14th AVE PROJECT #2017-2 Total Cost: 2,837,755 P.477-478
 https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/financial/2017-2021_approved_financial_plan_reduced.pdf

Kalamalka Lake Road Improvements Reference No. 17-30-ENG
https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bid-opportunities/17-30-eng_-_itt_kalamalka_lake_road_improvements.pdf

BC BID:
http://www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca/open.dll/showDisplayDocument?sessionID=1156211924&disID=34683575&docType=Tender&dis_version_nos=0&doc_search_by=Tend&docTypeQual=TN

Temporary Bus Stop To Remain

Posted on 11/28/2016 8:00 PM by Pete McIntyre 17.5 KISSFM

Talks between the City of Vernon, BC Transit,and the Village Green Centre have failed to reach a deal on keeping a transit stop at the mall. As a result, transit says the temporary bus stops on 48th Avenue will now become permanent.  Mayor Akbal Mund says it's not nearly as safe, and they will be letting the mall's ownership know they are disappointed. "I don't see how the location now where it's on 48th, makes it any safer for a senior walking across the parking lot through that exit all the way across, watching people back out and back in," Mund tells Kiss FM The City says the mall was not interested in constructing a pullout on 48th Ave at this time. Councillor Catherine Lord says it will create dangerous conditions for some bus users. "The 48th Avenue stop is fine in the summer time, but in the winter, they have to walk all the way across that lot. And some of them have little kids with them and some of them are walking with walkers," says Lord. Mund says it's disappointing. "We're here for the residents of Vernon. Unfortunately this is private property and we can't mandate people to do certain things on their property, and this is one of them." The city says any customers with concerns should direct them to the mall owners, Bentall Kennedy.
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sww also http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/news/403478806.html

McDonald's recalls millions of Happy Meals fitness bands

August 23, 2016 - 8:40 AM InfoNews.Ca

NEW YORK - McDonald's is recalling millions of fitness bands that had been given away in Happy Meals because they might cause skin irritation or burns to children. The fast-food chain said last week that it would stop distributing the bands in Happy Meals. Now it's recalling 29 million of them in the U.S., and 3.6 million in Canada. The company, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, received more than 70 reports of incidents after children wore the bands, including seven reports of blisters, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The Step-It Fitness plastic wristbands, in blue, green, purple, orange and red, look like watches and are supposed to track physical activity. Customers should return the wristbands to McDonald's for a free replacement toy, and either a yogurt tube or bag of apple slices, the CPSC said. The wristbands, which were made in China and distributed exclusively by McDonald's, were sold between Aug. 9 and Aug. 17. The promotion had turned heads even before the recall, given the reputation of McDonald's Corp. as a seller of junk food. The company has been trying to change that reputation over the years, in part by including fruit in its Happy Meals. The company has also been running TV ads saying its Chicken McNuggets are now made without artificial preservatives.

Business group reluctantly accepts Stickle plan

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Jun 27, 2016 at 10:00 AM— updated Jun 27, 2016 at 11:32 AM
The white flag has been raised over Stickle Road. The Swan Lake Business Corridor Association has backed off its demands for a traffic signal at Stickle Road and Highway 97 after a meeting with the Ministry of Transportation. “We were told for safety and traffic flow reasons, they won’t put in a light,” said Pat Loehndorf, association president. The ministry is proposing a ban on left-turns from Stickle Road on to the highway and a one-way extension of 20th Street into Vernon on the east side of Stickle Road. “Something is better than nothing,” said Loehndorf. “Is it what we want? No. Is it a compromise? Yes.” Loehndorf says there was considerable discussion within his group about abandoning immediate calls for a traffic signal, but he says there was no choice. “They aren’t budging period and the risk if we take a stance that it’s a light or nothing is they will take that budget and move on to the next project.” Loehndorf says the ministry may be convinced ultimately to construct a traffic signal somewhere along the corridor and communications between the association and the ministry must remain open. “We are taking a gamble if we take nothing from them.” Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA, is pleased that the business association has come on board behind the ministry plan. “We’ve addressed all of the things asked for by the businesses and residents which was safety,” he said. “We have come a long ways from where the ministry started. I think people will be happy when it’s done.”

Laundry detergent pods sending more children to hospital

by Martin van den Hemel - BC Local News posted Jun 2, 2016 at 1:00 PM
Colourful laundry detergent pods are becoming an increasingly common hazard for children, according to the B.C. Drug and Poison Information Centre. Since 2012, there has been a significant increase in the number of emergency room visits involving children under the age of 6, its statistics show. There were 59 calls in 2012, 128 in 2013, 137 in 2014 and 152 last year. “The big risk is if a child bites into a laundry pod and it sprays out detergent, it can cause severe welling in the back of the throat and interfere with a chlid’s breathing,” Dr. Roy Purssell, the centre’s medical lead, said in a news release. “Parents may see these pods as easy and convenient to use, but young children can confuse them with toys or candy.” Health Canada first warned parents and caregivers in 2012 about the hazards of the miniature detergent packs, saying kids are drawn to the bright colours and squishy texture. The agency advised homeowners to store these detergent packs where they can’t be found or swallowed, and that all cleaning products should be stored in a locked cabinet or drawer with a child safety latch.

B.C.'s distracted driving penalty jumps to $543 June 1

by Martin van den Hemel - BC Local News posted Jun 1, 2016 at 8:00 AM

The penalty for using a cell phone while driving just went up today. Effective June 1, distracted driving offences will result in a $368 fine, and when the $175 penalty points premium by ICBC is added on for the four-penalty-point infraction, that means a minimum $543 fine for first-time offenders. A second offence within a 12-month period drives the cost up to $888. The change in rules mean the province now regards distracted driving as a “high-risk driving offence”, on par with excessive speeding, driving without due care and attention, and driving without reasonable consideration. Repeat offenders will have their driving record subject to automatic review by Superintendent of Motor Vehicles. For new drivers, first-time offenders who are still driving under the graduated licensing program, face a possible prohibition of up to six months. Judging from recent enforcement efforts, drivers don’t seem to be getting the message that using their cell phones is illegal. Last month, officers from the BC RCMP provincial Integrated Road Safety Units doled out 264 tickets on Victoria Day weekend for distracted driving, driving without due care and attention and driving without reasonable consideration, up from 199 a year earlier. In March, a road safety unit in Kelowna handed out 37 violation tickets for distracted driving in less than three hours.

Businesses, residents lash out at Stickle plan

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted May 26, 2016 at 6:00 PM

The Ministry of Transportation is drawing heavy fire over its latest plans for Stickle Road. Opposition was significant as the ministry unveiled a proposal Thursday that would see left-turns banned at Stickle Road and Highway 97 and a south-bound extension of 20th Street into Vernon. “Everybody is shaking their heads because they (ministry) aren’t listening,” said Alan Hannebauer, owner of R-xtra Storage. “The simplest, cheapest solution is to put in a traffic light.” That is also the view coming from Brian Johnston, Vernon Kia owner. “My preference is a controlled light but they (ministry) are adamantly opposed to it,” he said. This was the third time that the ministry had come to the public with an option to maintain traffic flow and safety at Stickle Road. The regular tweaking of plans was frustrating for some. “The ministry is stupid,” said Darrel Stinson, former MP. “What do the businesses and people there want? Listen to them.” Pat Loehndorf, Swan Lake Corridor Business Association president, was optimistic Thursday’s meeting would unveil an acceptable solution but he left disappointed. “It’s no improvement,” he said, adding that large transport trucks departing from Stickle Road businesses will be funneled down 20th Street into a residential area and have to navigate busy 58th Avenue to reach 27th Street and the highway.Other concerns about extending 20th Street also exist.“It’s going right through a wetland,” said resident Jack Van Dyck.The current design would prevent traffic from travelling from the west side of Stickle Road, across the highway, to the east side. That is a concern for Serry Massoud, owner of Squires Four Pub.“The RV park across there is huge for me,” he said, adding that he expects customers will head to another pub instead of going south into Vernon and then back-tracking to Squires.“It doesn’t make sense.”Some residents questioned why Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA, wasn’t present to hear from residents directly.“I’m disappointed Eric wasn’t here,” said Will Rogers, who used to work at the auto mile.“It (plan) looks like a fait accompli.”Support for the ministry came from local politicians.“This is a far better solution. It provides safe egress into the city,” said Bob Fleming, BX-Swan Lake director. Akbal Mund, Vernon mayor, admits a traffic signal may eventually be required, but he insists action must be taken immediately.“I want something now for the safety of residents,” he said.The ministry would not speculate on what the next steps may be if the overwhelming public input is for a traffic signal.“I think we’ve addressed a lot of their concerns with this design,” said Spencer King, the ministry’s project manager.King says a light would create congestion and possible collisions while the current proposal is geared towards safety and maintaining access to local businesses.In terms of a one-way 20th Street connector into Vernon, King says that addresses the need for vehicles to turn left off Stickle on to Highway 97.“It will accommodate (transport) trucks quite easily.”An environmental impact study along the 20th Street route has been done.“We are starting to develop mitigation plans. We will improve fish habitat,” said King.If the Stickle design moves ahead, it could take two years for the $9.5 million project to be constructed, with work starting as early as this fall.

Frozen Food Recall

Posted on 5/20/2016 11:04 AM by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
You may want to check what's in your freezer due to one of the largest food recalls in recent memory. It involves millions of packages, and more than 400 products, of frozen fruits and vegetables shipped to stores in the U.S., Canada and Mexico from CRF Frozen Foods in Pasco, Washington. The products were sold under more than 40 different brand names at major retailers like Costco and Safeway.

"We are performing this voluntary recall in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) because these products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes," says a release on the US Food and Drug Administraiton website. "The organism can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women." Reports say eight people have been sickened by Listeria which could be linked to CRF vegetables, and two have died, though Listeria wasn't the primary cause of death. Some of the products date back to May 2014.

CLICK HERE for more information on the recall.

School Bus Fine More Than Doubled

Posted on 5/16/2016 1:50 PM by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM

Fines for drivers passing school buses with flashing lights in BC are more than doubling to $368. Transportation Minister Todd Stone says the increase follows a review of the penalties that found the previous fine of $167 was one of the lowest in Canada and not enough to deter drivers. Drivers will continue to receive three penalty points on top of the tougher fine. "It is important that all motorists understand that passing a school bus with flashing lights is dangerous and puts children's lives at risk," says Stone. "I want to thank the many parents, school bus drivers and school trustees who have brought this issue to the public's attention. It's a result of their tireless advocacy that we have increased the fines to send a message that the safety of our children must come first when driving near school buses." In BC, between 2009 and 2014, 1,100 violation tickets were issued by police for drivers that failed to stop for a school bus. To date, no child has died while getting on or off a school bus, but 14 children have been injured. "The safety of our children travelling to school by bus is a top priority for us," says Mike Bernier, Minister of Education. "The people who drive those buses have a responsibly to get them to school and home safely and we have a responsibility to support them." For a more information about driving penalties and escalating costs:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/BG_MOTI_Schoolbussafety.pdf

Emergency Preparedness Resources

Good Emergency Response Resources (From Dist. of Coldstream's website)


Disaster Financial Assistance FAQ'S
Emergency Preparedness Resources

• PreparedBC:  Household Emergency Plan
• PreparedBC:  Basic Emergency Supply Kit
• PreparedBC:  Household Preparedness Guide
• PreparedBC:  In It Together:  Neighbourhood Preparedness Guide

Stickle Road Open House May 26th

Posted on 5/13/2016 5:19 PM by KISS News Staff
Mark May 26th on your calendar as the day to learn the latest vision for the Highway 97 and Stickle Road plan.The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will hold an open house that day from 4 pm to 8 pm at the Prestige Hotel.Vernon Monashee M-L-A Eric Foster is hopeful people will be satisfied with the new design. "We've addressed the safety issue. We've addressed you know the issue of people getting in and out of town. Certainly worked with people in the city, you know the engineering people, the city and the provincial people have been working on this for awhile to make sure they iron all the kinks out so I'm fairly confident." The plan involves the extension of 20th Street behind Rona to run parallel to Highway 97 so that motorists can avoid that left hand turn from Stickle onto the highway. Opponents say the BX Creek Wetlands enhancement and interpretation project there would be at risk.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES: Fence fiasco predictable

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted May 11, 2016 at 1:00 AM
City of Vernon staff should have expected a backlash over ripping out the fence at Sawicki Park. After all, kids and playgrounds are motherhood issues and parents and grandparents traditionally get alarmed when something they perceive protects their children is suddenly taken away. No sooner was the fence down April 12, and social media went viral. Complaints also started to roll into elected officials. “The opposition to it is unanimous,” said Coun. Scott Anderson at city hall Monday. A two-page report was presented to council defending staff’s decision to eliminate the four-foot-high fence, but it did little to divert criticism. “I’m not convinced by the rationale here. A chain link fence does not impact visibility,” said Anderson. In the report, staff states, “the fence was removed to place emphasis on increasing accessibility, visibility and transparency for safety, and to enhance the landscape and provide more shade through additional tree planting.” As someone who drives past the park semi-regularly, I almost forget there is a chain link fence there. It virtually blends into the landscape and it’s difficult to know how a fence impacts sight lines more than a tree once it becomes fully mature. But the biggest reason many parents and grandparents are upset over the fence removal is the speedway known as Middleton Way. Yes, the speed limit is 30 kilometres an hour in the playground zone, but very few motorists do that. Obviously there is a need for increased RCMP enforcement of the speed limit there, but you can’t have an officer sitting all of the time. A fence provides an established boundary for kids, who can be unpredictable when running around. Staff insist that other parks don’t have fences around them, but instead of taking out the fence at Sawicki, one should question why more fences aren’t installed. In the case of Girouard Park, 20th Street has become a busy link between the north end of town and East Hill. The only support for staff at Sawicki came from Coun. Catherine Lord. “If you are going to take children to the playground, you will be with them. Why do we need a fence there?” she said. Of course parents must be responsible but you can be the most diligent parent in the world, and your kid is still going to zig when they should zag. Things can happen at a blink of an eye. A fence is not about bubble-wrapping kids but ensuring there is a basic safety standard for them and for motorists. In the end, the biggest mistake by city staff was the lack of communications. Before the fence was removed, park users and immediate neighbours should have been consulted to see if there was any interest in the plan. And while the role of council isn’t to interfere in day-to-day operations at city hall, the politicians should have had advance warning about a contentious action, and perhaps they should have been asked for guidance. As well intentioned as staff was, the reality is that considerable time and effort has been wasted and a fence is going back up. Any future fence removals at parks must be placed on hold until council provides further direction.

Council orders fence return to Sawicki Park

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted May 9, 2016 at 6:00 PM
A fence is going back up at a Vernon park. Council directed staff Monday to consider options for a fence around Sawicki Park on Middleton Way after its removal April 12 led to numerous public complaints. “The opposition to it is unanimous,” said Coun. Scott Anderson. “No one thinks it’s a good idea.” Coun. Brian Quiring is concerned a child may dash out on to Middleton Way, which has a 30-kilometre-an-hour speed zone, which many motorists don’t follow. “People rip down that road and I heard that within days of the fence going down, there was a near-miss,” he said. Staff’s argument that there aren’t fences around other parks didn’t go over well with Coun. Juliette Cunningham. “The one size fits all approach doesn’t always work,” she said. “You can’t compare the speed on this road to Armoury Park or Kin Beach.” Staff say the fence was taken down to improve sight lines and to improve access in and out of the park instead of the limited gates now. “If someone is chasing you in the park, you;d have to go to one of the entrances to get out,” said Kendra Kryszak, parks planner. Support for staff came from Coun. Catherine Lord. “If you are going to take children to the playground, you will be with them. Why do we need a fence there?” she said. Mayor Akbal Mund is reluctant to see fences come down at other parks, including Lakeview. “That’s a busy park with the (peanut) pool so I hope that’s not on the list,” he said.

Tougher Distracted Driving Penalties

Posted on 5/9/2016 12:18 PM by Ron Manz 107.5 KISSFM

Penalties for distracted driving in BC will be significantly tougher come June 1st. Effective that date, it will cost you $543 for a first time offence, which includes a fine of $368, and 175 for the 4 driver penalty points. The current fine for a first violation is $167. Repeat offenders, upon a second infraction within 12 months, will pay the $368 fine plus $520, for a total of $888 in financial penalties, which escalate further for any additional offence.

Solicitor General Mike Morris says 66 people died in 2014 due to distracted driving. "British Columbians were clear what they wanted to see done. 90 percent said they were very concerned about distracted driving and wanted higher fines and stiffer penalties for repeat offenders. Today we are responding with stronger penalties," Morris told a news conference. Further stiffening these consequences, distracted driving is being elevated to the threshold for "high-risk" driving offences, making it equivalent to excessive speeding and driving without due care and attention. "Repeat offenders will also have their driving record subject to automatic review,
which could result in a three-to-12 month driving prohibition," says Morris. Graduated Licensing Program (GLP) drivers face intervention after a first distracted driving offence and a possible prohibition of up to six months. There will be longer prohibitions for repeat offences. The superintendent of motor vehicles also has discretion to prohibit drivers based on referrals from ICBC or police.

Loss of fencing a concern

by Darren Handschuh - CASTANET Apr 28, 2016 / 10:00 am

Kathleen Sparrow is concerned for the safety of children using a popular park after fencing was taken down by the city. Sparrow said she often takes her grandson to Sawicki Park and was surprised to see the fencing had been removed. “Fencing was taken down at Sawicki Park because they want better curb appeal and easier access I was told,” Sparrow said on social media in a post that touched off a lengthy discussion with many parents baffled by the decision. “I have been taking my grandson there on a weekly basis and have never found it unaccessible. Now the playground area has no fence. Balls do roll and children run after them,” she said, adding she contacted the city parks department and was told fences at more parks are coming down. “Next up is Heritage Park. Please get involved and keep our children safe while playing in their playgrounds. One voice is not enough,” she said. “We need city hall to hear about this. Keep our children safe.” Amanda Kopiak echoed Sparrow's concerns “This could be especially concerning to parents with two young kids. One could run off, while the parent is helping the other child, or other such scenarios,” she posted. Val Redquest added, “This has to be the stupidest idea, that park is used all the time, we have to keep our children safe.”

Coun. Scott Anderson was asked what his thoughts were and he said he plans to bring it to the May 9th city council meeting. “In the meantime, the best way to take action is to contact council members directly, either by phone or by email, rather than staff. Our contact info is all here (vernon.ca/government-services/mayor-council) and make sure you email all of us (even if it's only one email) rather than just one of us,” he advised. “The reason you want to do that, is that council is the only entity with the power to change something already in progress...staff can't unilaterally decide that kinda stuff. I can't promise that council will decide to change it, but we're the only ones who can.” Anderson also encouraged people to “get together and apply to make a presentation to council...choose a speaker, and then all show up in support when the presentation happens.” Sparrow is urging people to follow Anderson's advice and contact city officials about the matter. “I have just emailed all of city council in a matter of 15 minutes,” she said. “Please send your concerns to them. We need community support for this.”

Downtown Detours

Posted on 4/19/2016 5:27 PM by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM

Several blocks of downtown Vernon

Link

will be torn up and closed to through traffic in a three month project starting Wednesday. Crews from Pyramid Excavation will be working on 32nd Avenue, from 27th to 29th Streets near Beairsto School. Businesses in the construction area will be accessible during the work, and vehicles will be able to use 35th Avenue to get in and out, including drop-off and pickup of students. The contractor will also provide access from 28th Street across 32nd Avenue from 7 to 9 each morning, and from 2 to 4 in the afternoons, on weekdays. The city says the project should be complete by the end of June.

Painting the town

Castanet Staff - Apr 16, 2016 / 5:53 am

The City of Vernon has reissued its line painting tender, after complaints the yellow and white lines on many city streets had all but disappeared. Staff point an accusing finger at an organic compound paint that has been used the last three years. Before that, oil-based paint was used for line painting but was discontinued due to a change in environmental regulations. The new contract will require the winning firm to measure the thickness of the paint, using a digital pavement marking measuring instrument, to ensure the application meets the terms of the contract. Staff say other options for line painting, such as a thermoplastic paint, were reviewed and rejected due to the expense. Based on local industry quotations, thermoplastic paint costs about $6 per metre, compared to 30 cents per metre for the organic compound paint, says a staff report.
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16-54-PW Annual Line Painting

TENDER

• tender16-54-pw_annual_line_painting.pdf

   tender16-54-pw_annual_line_painting.pdf

• 16-54-pw_schedules_a-g.pdf

   16-54-pw_schedules_a-g.pdf

• 16-54-pw_addendum_1.pdf

   16-54-pw_addendum_1.pdf

Apr 14, 2016 - See more at: https://www.vernon.ca/business/bid-opportunities/all-open-requests#sthash.kIx6bula.dpuf