Charging Station
Golden Town Council has agreed to engage in a partnership with the Community Energy Association to install electric car charging stations in the community.
The Accelerate Kootenays project has already been in place in three Kootenay Regional Districts to install Level 2 and Level 3 DC (fast charge) electric vehicle stations throughout the Kootenays. Recently the Columbia Basin Trust joined the partnership with financial support, and Golden and Revelstoke were added to the collaboration.
“The costs to us are quite minimal,” said Town CAO Jon Wilsgard. “I don’t have any reason to believe any community is going to refuse this partnership.”
The partnership lays out the costs that will go to the project, and those that the community will be responsible for. The cost estimates for the municipality would be $1,200 for 2017 which includes the initial installation, $850 per year for 2018/2019 for maintenance, network fees and extra electricity, and $1,150 in 2020, which will include maintenance, repairs, and parts after the warranty expiration.
“I see this as a symbolic green initiative that comes at a very low cost to us, so I support it,” said Coun. Bruce Fairley.
BC Hydro will oversee operations and maintenance on the DC charging stations, which Town staff have requested be placed in central, downtown locations.
“I’m really glad these stations will be in central locations…that’s 45 minutes during the charge where these drivers have nowhere to go except to wander around town,” said Coun. Eddie Leigan.
Charging will be free for the time being, but user fees may be explored in the future to pass the full cost onto the private users.
Golden already has a Tesla charging station located at the Travelodge Hotel on Highway 1.
Rec Plex Staff
The Town of Golden Recreation Department has been given the go-ahead to rearrange some of its part time staffing positions to create an administrative position for the Mount 7 Rec Plex.
Department manager Jordan Petrovics brought it up at a previous council meeting in a briefing note that said a dedicated staff member would help enable programming needs and reach user and cost recovery targets set by council.
“The proposal is to combine staff positions for a 35 hour per week employee to run the Rec Plex,” said Petrovics. The proposal did not come with any additional staff costs, but the department felt it would better serve the facility users. Not only that, but they will also be able to launch two new programs that will be revenue generating for the building.
“This will make our department much more efficient.”
The administrator would be on site for the start-up of all drop-in programs, handle cash and pass sales, as well as track visitation and start collecting data for the Rec Plex.
Council voted unanimously in favour of the partnership.
