The Village of Telkwa will support the Smithers and Area Recycling Society using Telkwa’s portion of regional district recycling money to buy a new cardboard baler.
Telkwa Mayor Carman Graf brought the issue back to the council table at their meeting on Feb. 13. The Village had been trying to use the money from the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako for a recycling program of their own.
Unfortunately, after much back and forth, it turns out municipalities themselves are not eligible to receive the funding.
So now council is content to let others benefit from the funds.
“We put that off because we were still hoping to get some [recycling] money...which is not going to happen,” said Telkwa Chief Administrative Officer Kim Martinsen to council, regarding the recycling society’s presentation from last year.
Graf said that he will support a motion to allow the society to access their $62,000 allotment of funds for recycling.
“The money was set aside for Telkwa and Rural A and for us to do something in Rural A is impossible whereas the recycle depot takes care of the whole area so that should satisfy [the requirements],” said Graf.
Council voted unanimously to support the recycling society’s application to use the funds for a new bailer.