The District of Port Edward is looking to improve the conditions of the boat launch in the community, and will be leaving it up to the users of the facility to help raise the funds needed to widen the launch.
The idea was brought forward at the February 22 meeting of Port Edward council, with councillor Dan Franzen championing the effort.
“I would like to see a box installed that people could put some money into, and that money would be used for improvements to the launch and the dock,” he said.
“It wouldn’t be a requirement to pay, it would be up to the people, but if you get $500 from it, then that’s $500 you didn’t have before.”
The idea was one that found favour among the councillors in attendance.
“I know people that come here from Alberta that like to use the Port Edward boat launch, and I am sure they would be happy to put in some money to see the facility improved,” said councillor Knut Bjorndal.
As well as putting in a box for improvements to the boat launch, council gathered at the docks late last week to look at options related to the fish cleaning table. Last year there was a grizzly bear shot in the community that had been frequenting the dock area because of the abundance of fish waste that gathered along the shore.
Council and the DFO had been asking fishermen to throw their fish waste off of the end of the dock, where the tides would carry it away, but much of it was being disposed of in the shallows where it remained and was exposed at high tide. Council will be making a decision on the fish dock at a later meeting, but plan to do something before the tourism season gets underway.