The District of Houston council has given preliminary approval for the fire department’s operating and capital expenditure budgets for 2024 so that it can then recoup some of that expense from the Bulkley-Nechako regional district for offering fire protection in the rural area outside of Houston.
How much regional district taxpayers will pay is determined by a percentage of property tax values in the rural area and the percentage for 2024 is 5.25 percent, an increase over 2023’s 4.83 per cent.
Based on a combined operating and capital expense budget total of $435,296 for 2024, the regional district taxpayer provided percentage of $5.25 per cent works out to $22,885.
New to the fire department for 2024 is a $141,256 command truck. That expense has been covered through an equipment replacement reserve into which a sum of money is paid each year.
And to prepare for an orderly replacement of the department’s fire engines, $100,000 has been placed in a reserve account.
Pickup purchase
Council has also given early budget approval for the purchase of a used pickup to replace an older one well past its useful life.
“A good used 2019 pickup with low kilometres has become available for the price of $32,000,” explained operations director Mike Cooper. That’s less than the $50,000 that had been contemplated was necessary to buy a replacement.
This 2019 model will replace on dating back to 2005 and which Cooper said was unreliable because of its deteriorating mechanical condition.
Cooper said the work needs of summer outside parks workers puts a strain on the District’s fleet of available vehicles.
Grant wanted
The District is applying for a grant worth up to $30,000 to hold a workshop training employees on how an emergency operations centre would function should one ever be needed.
It would complement equipment and material purchased last year that would be needed should an emergency operations centre be needed.
The desired grant, should the full amount be awarded, would cover $18,300 in equipment and training expenses and $11,316 in travel expenses, meals and accommodation for those who would do the training.
Landscaping out to tender
The District is putting its Steelhead Park landscaping contract out to tender to cover 2024 to 2027.
The most current term of the contract ended last Oct. 31 and the requirement to put the contract out to tender follows a District policy that “from $25,001 to $75,000 for goods and services at least three written quotations shall be obtained locally.”
“If three quotations cannot be obtained, written justification must be submitted and bids from outside may be obtained.”
Staff did indicate that the they have been satisfied with the services provided by long-time landscape service supplier Blu Sky Landscaping.
Watershed, fish health awareness
Council has given a letter of support to the Buck Creek Hatchery and Nature Centre’s application to the Pacific Salmon Foundation for a grant to promote coho salmon fry release and to host a fall and winter speaker series on watershed health in the Upper Bulkley system.
The grant’s value would be $5,570 and the awareness program carries the title of Salmon Smart: Community Learning in the Upper Bulkley.
District to provide swag
The District of Houston is putting together a collection of branded swag to use to augment prizes or any other purpose by the Pleasant Valley Horse Club when it hosts its annual May Days weekend.
“This is a well-attended, fun-filled, family-oriented event that brings in riders from Prince George to Terrace,” a letter from the club indicated.
“Your sponsorship will augment awards for events such as cattle sorting, ranch hand competition, extreme trail, jackpot events and little britches events and activities,” the letter added.
May Days is held each May long weekend which this year is May 18, 19 and 20.