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Kitimat council still seeking a work camp policy

Councillors have worked to smooth out the wrinkles as they move forward to develop a work camp policy for the town.

Councillors have worked to smooth out the wrinkles as they move forward to develop a work camp policy.

In particular, councillor Phil Germuth tried to catch up to speed after being away for the prior Committee of the Whole meeting where it was believed that councillors were happy for discussion on work camps to be a part of the open house process of PTI Group, which are seeking to build a work lodge near town.

However that went against Germuth’s intention to discuss a work camp policy separately from existing proposals for town.

No official motions had previously been passed regarding work camp policy, save for a motion that council develop one, which was carried at the February 4 council meeting.

Germuth believed lining up work camp policies with PTI’s proposal would be dangerous for the council.

“By mentioning PTI we’re putting ourselves in a possible conflict,” he said. “And to wait until we have something here...public input is what we should have before we develop a policy.”

He said public input is needed because, “We’re not smarter than anyone else.”

Mario Feldhoff preferred to have workshops on camp policy and to take in input from the Advisory Planning Commission ahead of any public meeting, and moved for staff to provide a schedule of process for developing a plan, including a public town hall meeting and workshops.

That motion passed unanimously.