Once promised to be unique, the solution to Vanderhoof’s reuse shed will now resemble others in the regional district.
Earlier this month, members of the Men’s Shed Society voted to decline the contract to operate Vanderhoof’s reuse shed.
“We decided that we can’t handle it,” said the society’s president John Alderlisten. “We felt we weren’t able to supply enough volunteers.”
The Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako decided at a monthly board meeting in June to proceed with proposing a contract to the society, with a monthly payment amount of $2,341.67 and a term expiring Dec. 31 this year.
The contract required staffing for four days, for a total of 28 hours a week. Usage of the reuse shed is restricted to two 15-minute visits a day for each person.
Regional district staff is now falling back to original plans and looking for a paid attendant to take care of the reuse shed, said Jerry Petersen, director of rural Vanderhoof.
“I want to thank the people at the Men Shed for showing interest,” Petersen said. “It’s a big job and requires a lot of volunteer time.
“I appreciate them coming forward and wanting to contribute.”
Vanderhoof’s reuse shed’s reopen date and times will be discussed at the next regional district board meeting in late August.
In other parts of Bulkley-Nechako, reuse sheds of Smithers, Granisle, Southside, Burns Lake, and rural Fraser Lake were reopened on May 26.
Last September, the board of directors of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN) has passed a motion to immediately close all re-use sheds until “a safe solution is found.” Due to a number of troubling incidents directly affecting staff and public health and safety, re-use sheds located at all regional district solid waste management facilities were closed.