Port Hardy council was back at the decision-making table on Tuesday, March 12, with more requests from staff to spend funds on.
A staff report from Jason Jascinto, Director of Operations, was included in the agenda, asking for early approval to “acquire a single electrical service vehicle, a truck space cap, and additional funds to install fibre optic cable at the water treatment plant [WTP].”
According to Jascinto’s report, he noted the district can “cut emissions, maintenance costs, and vehicle footprint by switching to electric vehicles.”
The report then stated that upgrading the outdated and soon-to-be obsolete WTP telecommunications would significantly lower calls “to troubleshoot the present system, software freezing, and the deployment of extra support personnel to the WTP.”
This in turn would guarantee that the tools and equipment the district’s building maintenance worker needs to deliver prompt assistance would occur with the least downtime.
The report listed the purchases as follows:
EV truck and space cap - $91,185 (EV $51,370 and space cap $39,815); and
Construction and installation of fibre cable to the water treatment plant - $90,000 (2023 budget of $60,000 will be carried forward to 2024 and the budget will be increased by $30,000 in 2024).
“Our supplier will eventually phase out Copper Telecom cable connections, so we must move to fibre optics,” stated Jascinto in his report. “The district will save a significant amount of money on materials and installation costs if it is installed now. Employees troubleshoot and deal with software issues regularly. Thanks to the fibre upgrade, we will be able to keep developing mechanical and software technologies.”
As for switching to electric vehicles, he added that changing a portion of the fleet to electric “will lower ownership expenses. Even though EVs may be more expensive than traditional cars, the district will save money on maintenance such as oil changes and transmission flushes.Compared to regular vehicles, about half as much is spent on maintenance. The district may also be able to use tax credits to partially defray the cost of electrifying its fleet.”
“The main advantage of purchasing a truck cap is that it deters theft, locks to protect equipment, and shields the tools and equipment from the weather in this same system,” Jascinto added. “Truck caps can also increase fuel efficiency.”
The total cost estimate for everything would be $121,185, with the funding for the projects listed as follows:
Equipment reserve - $91,185; and
Water Capital Reserve - additional $30,000.
Chief Administrative Officer Heather Nelson-Smith summed the report up by writing that council should approve “the expenditure of $121,185 from the 2024 capital plan to ensure timely expense of projects ahead of the approval of the 2024-2028 financial plan” and that the funds be allocated as follows: $91,185 from the Equipment Capital Reserve and $30,000 from the Water Capital Reserve to expedite the purchase of an EV MightE Truck, space cap and add the additional funding towards the WTP fibre upgrade.
Coun. Brian Texmo said it’s important for “the fibre line to get up there” and that it would “make a huge difference in reliability and serviceability for the future.”
“All in favour?” asked Mayor Pat Corbett-Labatt.
When it came to passing a motion in support of going ahead with the early expenditures, council voted and the funding requests were all approved.