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Port Edward honours fire chief

Port Edward, British Columbia council briefs: September 2016
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Port Edward Mayor Dave MacDonald recognizes Port Edward Fire Chief Shawn Pettitt for his 25 years of volunteer service.

Update on rail crossings

There are seven rail crossings in Port Edward but the district has decided to upgrade only five of them due to cost.

The district has been working on this for years, and Bob Payette, the chief administrative officer, told council they will not be able to get the work done this year. There is a six month procurement process and the district hasn’t started.

All the approvals are now in place. Each of the crossings has been engineered and approved by CN for the upgrades. Council has also approved for guaranteed funds.

They will use the extra time to find more support from stakeholders including Prince Rupert Ridley Terminals Inc., Prince Rupert Grain, Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc. and DP World. The Port of Prince Rupert has already contributed $250,000. At the moment, the district is looking at approximately $1.24 million to upgrade the rail crossings.

25-year service award

Mayor Dave MacDonald presented the Port Edward Fire Chief Shawn Pettitt with the long-term service award in recognition of 25 years of volunteer work in the community.

Pettitt started with the Port Edward Fire Department in 1988. Later he became deputy chief and the First Aid instructor. He took on the fire chief role in 2008.

“On behalf of Port Ed council I want to congratulate you and thank you for your long service and also the service of all your firemen and without you we’d be in a bad spot,” MacDonald said.

Third reading for temp. lodging

A joint venture between AltaGas and Metlakatla to convert land they own into camp lodging if a liquefied natural gas project goes ahead is moving ahead in council.

The district held a public hearing on Sept. 13 on the zoning bylaw No.540, 2013 to permit the temporary lodging.

Bob Payette said there were no naysayers and everyone supported the rezoning at the public meeting. The district also has the Ministry of Transportation approval.

At the Sept.14 council meeting, the district passed a third reading of the bylaw and by the next meeting they will be able to vote to adopt the amendment.