The City of Merritt is opening up the floor to any company that wishes to propose providing Wi-Fi services in Merritt similar to what they’ve been offered recently from Shaw.

Council heard a delegation at its July 8 meeting from a Shaw representative offering free Wi-Fi services at various locations in the city.

City of Merritt leisure services manager Larry Plotnikoff recommended issuing a request for proposals to offer Wi-Fi services in public facilities and the downtown to city council at its regular meeting on Tuesday.

Plotnikoff told council the offer from Shaw is a marketing program aimed at increasing that company’s customer base.

“It would be an open and fair process and we would not be deemed to be aiding a private business,” Plotnikoff said of issuing a request for proposals.

The request for proposal was approved unanimously by councillors at their Aug. 12 meeting. Councillors Clara Norgaard and Mike Goetz were absent.

Council approves DARE program grant

At its regular meeting last Tuesday, city council approved a grant for $1,455 to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program in order to cover the remaining cost of administering last year’s program.

The program is run by RCMP officers in local schools. Police raised some of the necessary funds, then came to council seeking any amount of money to help close the gap.

Coun. Harry Kroeker made a motion to fund the difference, provided the city has enough money in its city initiatives account to do so. Kroeker said he believes the program is a good one, which he wouldn’t want to see lost.

Deputy financial services manager Ben Currie said while there were sufficient funds in city initiatives category ($44,310) to provide the grant, the funding should be provided from the grant-in-aid account — which had $9,862 — given the DARE Program is not an initiative to attract people to the community, which is what the city initiatives account covers.

Councillors Clara Norgaard and Mike Goetz were absent from the meeting.

City goes for single-year deal with Gold Country

City council opted to renew a one-year membership with Gold Country Communities Society instead of a proposed two-year deal at its regular meeting on Aug. 12.

Councillors voted 4-1 in favour of renewing a one-year membership, with Coun. Neil Menard in opposition. Councillors Mike Goetz and Clara Norgaard were absent from the meeting.

The agreement is for a one-year marketing and development membership for $8,000. The two-year proposal was also for $8,000 per year.

Business and economic development manager Jerry Sucharyna said maintaining the city’s agreement on a year-to-year basis encourages organizations such as Gold Country to work harder for the community’s participation each year.

“To ensure that we get the best bang for our buck, I believe in keeping organizations on their toes,” Sucharyna said.

He also said this allows the city more flexibility and control.

Gold Country Communities Society supports Merritt in tourism and economic development.

Through its membership with Gold Country Communities Society, the City of Merritt receives three pages in the Gold Country visitor’s guide, promotion of Merritt events on the Gold Country website, coverage of activities in Merritt on Facebook and Twitter, as well as promotion of Merritt as a geocaching community.

Spray pad work postponed

Resurfacing at the City of Merritt’s spray pad at Rotary Park has been rescheduled to September.

The project, which will see the entire surface of the spray pad covered in a softer, more slip-resistant surface made from 100 per cent recycled B.C. rubber, was scheduled for Aug. 22.

However, to accommodate summertime use, the city will resurface the spray pad in late September instead.

An exact date for the weather-dependent work to take place has not been released.