After receiving Nestle Waters Canada’s voluntary levy at a special meeting on April 24, council has decided how to use those funds.
On May 15, director of finance Ursula D’Angelo presented a report outlining the list of projects to be funded from the levy of $33,037 including:
– an outdoor bottling filling and drinking station, $10,700;
– dog park fence, $8,000;
– osprey nest pole and platform, $2,000; and
– seasonal lighting displays and improvements of McMillan Park, $12,337.
Parks and recreation officer Jamie Adams said she would be working with community groups for the osprey nest.
“At this point, we think it would have a value added feature to the river trail project that we are currently working on,” she said.
Councillor Matt Sammut said he is thrilled with the seasonal lights for McMillan Park.
“It’s something I pushed for for years and I’m so thrilled that we’re going to make that park a beautiful facility for Christmas,” he said.
Councillor Rob Smith agreed, saying, “I really just had one comment and that’s ‘Yay Christmas’ because that park has been, yeah, pretty embarrassing.”
Councillor Jeff Duncan said the projects were what the levy was implemented for.
“I think it really hit, for myself, the intention of what the voluntary levy was supposed to be,” he said.
“It was supposed to be extra money to allow us to do either environment or wildlife, or community stuff that we probably wouldn’t have funded ourselves or be more reluctant to fund.”
Council approved the recommendation unanimously.
