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City council rejects funding life-jacket kiosk

No funding will be forthcoming from the City of Salmon Arm for a structure to hold free life-jackets

No funding will be forthcoming from the City of Salmon Arm for a structure to hold free life-jackets.

Rob Sutherland and Bruce Weicker with the Shuswap Lifeboat Society, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, addressed Salmon Arm council in early November to ask for assistance in providing a spot for life-jackets to hang, probably one near the wharf and one at Canoe Beach.

Sutherland said the PFD Loaner Station in Sicamous has been a success.

Children who are going boating or swimming who don’t have a life-jacket can borrow one for the day, on the honour system. There would be about 10 or 15 available, sized for the younger children, six and under. Their request was considered during 2016 budget deliberations, with the structure and installation for each location valued at $5,000. A majority of council voted against funding it.

Mayor Nancy Cooper said this might be a project for a service group like the Rotary or perhaps an item for the Shuswap Community Foundation.

Coun. Louise Wallace-Richmond said she invited the presenters to a Canada 150 subcommittee meeting as a possible legacy project.

Coun. Ken Jamieson said another source would be the new watershed council, which includes water safety as part of its mandate.

Coun. Chad Eliason suggested putting $2,500 into reserve for each location, so search and rescue could then go to a non-profit for a partnership.

“What do people do when they come here? Go boating, go swimming.”

Coun. Alan Harrison said he thinks it is a good idea, but he doesn’t see it as a local government project.

“I think it’s a good opportunity for a service group – maybe Rotary. They could have a really nice sign with their name on it. The city could co-operate putting it up, but I don’t see us funding it.”

The motion to provide funding was defeated, with only Cooper, Eliason and Coun. Tim Lavery voting for it.

 



Martha Wickett

About the Author: Martha Wickett

came to Salmon Arm in May of 2004 to work at the Observer. I was looking for a change from the hustle and bustle of the Lower Mainland, where I had spent more than a decade working in community newspapers.
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