It is an annual tradition, just one that hasn’t happened in more than a decade.
Mayor, councillors and municipal staff took a bus tour of key City of Quesnel facilities, this week, to get a close view and clearer understanding of the taxpayer-owned infrastructure they are charged with. Almost two-dozen people took advantage of the opportunity.
Participants from the council table included mayor Ron Paull and councillors Tony Goulet, Debra McKelvie, Laurey-Anne Roodenburg, and Mitch Vik.
Attendees from City staff included city manager Byron Johnson, director of corporate and financial services Kari Bolton, director of capital works and infrastructure Chris Coben, director of community services Jeff Norburn, director of public works operations Matt Thomas, fire chief and director of emergency services Ron Richert, manager of economic development and tourism Amy Reid, executive assistant Laura Long, community development coordinator Lindsay Blair, public works superintendent Derek Kitamura, utilities superintendent Joe Law, capital works project manager Brad Emslie, and recreation manager Richard Gauthier.
Some attended all the tour, others were there at various times.
“As a new councillor it was a fantastic exercise to see firsthand how our tax and tax grant dollars have been spent improving such a wide range of services within the community,” said McKelvie after the circuit was complete.
The tour included City Hall, the town’s landfill site, the Dragon Hill reservoir, the Public Works yard, the rec centre and its bike trails, Sprout Kitchen, the childcare centre, and new Quesnel Fire Hall. At each stop, participants were given a tour and detailed discussion about the site’s workings.
The last time such a tour happened was 2012. There is consideration now of restoring its regularity.
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