Good news for Vanderhoof – the municipality should see its reuse shed re-opened and possibly under new management.
At this week’s council meeting, the local Men’s Shed group expressed an interest in taking over supervision of the reuse shed.
Mayor Gerry Thiessen says council considers the idea to be a “perfect opportunity.”
“To me, one way or another, I want to see that reuse shed opened, either up at the transfer station or at the Men’s Shed. But, to me, it would make perfect sense that it open up at the Men’s Shed.”
The shed was closed, along with others across the Regional District of Bulkely Nechako, after items including live ammunition, human waste and used syringes were found. But Thiessen says council has heard a plan to address the issue.
“The Regional District are the people responsible for waste management. They have come up with a plan to open up the re-use shed. What they would do then is hire a part time attendant just to keep it clean and make sure it’s safe.”
Thiessen says there is funding available to pay for the attendant position.
“There is a grant in lieu of taxes, which the Regional District a number of years ago decided to use for recycling and environmental initiatives and in the municipality of Vanderhoof, we have enough to cover the attendant for the reuse shed.”
Council is currently exploring whether transferring the grant to the Men’s Shed is a possibility. Thiessen says they should have an answer by next week and he hopes to see the reuse shed reopen within a month.