Town facing large shorfall after flood
Mayor John Ranta said the repairs to Stage Road will cost approximately $1 million and Old Cariboo Road, about $350,000. The Village is also paying contractors to clean, sweep and repair as needed. He estimated that it would cost the Village $1.9 million altogether to repair its infrastructure.
“Recoverable costs will fall short by 20 percent,” he said, noting that disaster assistance only covers up to 80 per cent, “or $400,000. We’ve told them that represents more than one year’s residential tax charges, so it will set us back a bit.”
Two weeks later, Council revised that figure to $3 million, with the Village being liable for $600,000 of that. The Village engaged Nor-ex Engineering to assist with a disaster recovery plan, which included identifying the damage and applying for funding.
Flood repairs costly for residents
BlackPress4Good and the United Way launched flood relief campaigns, while donations also came from individuals, groups and businesses. Fundraisers were also held by local individuals and groups, and from neighbouring communities as far away as Barkerville.
By the end of the year, approximately $265,00 had been donated to help the residents affected by the flood.
Seventy-seven homes were affected, many needing new hot water tanks and furnaces.
Landfill gas use becomes reality
Wastech celebrated the official opening of its Landfill Gas Utilization Plant at the Cache Creek Landfill on June 15, an initiative that will generate electricity at a rate of 4.8 megawatts – enough to power more than 2500 typical households. The project traps gas that is naturally generated from the landfilling process, and sells it to BC Hydro.
Representatives from Wastech and its parent company Belkorp Environmental Services Inc. were joined by MLA Jackie Tegart, Cache Creek Mayor John Ranta and representatives of Finning and its contractors who built the plant.
Tegart and Ranta joined Stuart Belkin, Chairman & CEO of Belkorp Industries Inc. in cutting the ribbon.