Category: Government Works


Smart meters

Filed under: Government Works, Politics and Politicians, Technology, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — 2 Comments
October 17, 2011
Elster A3 ALPHA type A30 single-phase kWh smar...

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The  provincial hydro authority is going to be installing smart meters around the province. This will give them the ability to better manage power. As well the customer will also be able to do the same .No word on the thought that there will be two rates, one for off-peak and one for on. There was a proposal for an energy project that took water out of our own Nicola Lake and stored it till peak usage time. The marriage is more than obvious and we will be listening for the re-emergence of that project here in the future.

The local library has a meter for you to borrow to test where you are using your power the smart meter will build on that principle.

Today in History, October 17,2010

Mary Mckillop is canonized to be the first Saint of Australia.

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RCMP

Filed under: Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 3, 2011

There are negotiations on here for the renewal of a contract with the province to supply municipal police services from the Federal Police Force.
The press is reporting that a take it or leave it offer is on the table from the feds for March 2012 renewal. The feds are also tendering 30 plus billion in navy ship building contracts and a proposal is in their hands for work to be done in BC shipyards by an eastern shipbuilder.

The BC Provincial Police force was used even up past the end of the second world war in BC and this renewal for the RCMP comes after the completion of a 20 year contract with the province for its 6000 members that the feds supply to municipalities here.

Two police officers were murdered in this community in the 1930s a BC Provincial Police officer and a Dominion Police Services of Canada officer , their killers, surname George, were hung at the New Westminster penitentiary for the killings.

The second war era RCMP were responsible for national security today that task is done by a civilian agency the called CSIS….

The Justice Institute of BC trains police and jail guards for civil police and authorities in BC.

Today in History, October 3,1952

United Kingdom tests nuclear weapon to become the worlds 3rd nuclear power.

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Merritt volunteer fire department training

Filed under: Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
July 20, 2011

The local fire fighters have trained new fire men here, and will be getting 5 more in September. The project has proven succesful for four trained fire fighters 2 who have gotten jobs with a Vancouver fire Company and 2 with a Kamloops Company. ( meaning Department of  the Cities.)

The people are paid and live in a trailer behind the fire house. A source says that the MVFD has three platoon s of about 9 persons each and three trucks including a 70 odd foot ladder and water cannon operation. There is one 4 story building in Merritt.

Today in history, July 20,1903

Ford Motor Company ships its first car.

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Kevin Falcon

Filed under: Politics and Politicians, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
June 22, 2011

Kevin Falcon, a minister of the crown is visiting here once again. Falcon a member of the ruling liberal party and part of the new premier Christy Clark is visiting the local arts council.

He is deputy premier and finance minister since March. He is the chair of the treasury board.

The honorable member is a volunteer in his riding on the Surrey bike patrol with the RCMP,

The event is on June 29th,6.00 PM till 9 PM, At the Grand grill and pub tickets 15 dollars for a steak fundraiser dinner.

Today in History, June 22,2003

The largest hailstone every recorded falls on  Aurora Nebraska.

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Fire investigation

Filed under: Government Works, Politics and Politicians, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
June 7, 2011

About twenty fire fighters, are taking an investigation certification course at the local community college today. They will become credible witness’s to court cases involving insurance companies and criminal proceedings involving prosecutions.

The 4 and a half day of training gives the participants a level 2 certification for civil not criminal investigations another 4 1/2 would give them  level one and a credible witness in a criminal proceeding.

One of the participants said he was looking forward to making determinations.

Those  would have to stand in prosecutions and recovery actions for costs with insurance companies. We think that when loss rears its head it is competence and fairness that needs  to prevail.

Today in History, June 7 1099

The first crusade the siege of Jerusalem begins.

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Maintenence

Filed under: Enterprize, Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
May 27, 2011

The health authority has 3 full-time maintenance people and one part-time. For a 8 bed hospital and with one dormant wing. An extended care facility with 75 beds ; its hard to find published ,the amount.

A young obviously first nation full-time maintenance worker for the city, was chatty this morning about his job saying two days a week its his job to pick up the garbage from the city cans about the city .He said he looks in the top of them for obvious disadvantageous materials such as paraphernalia and needles but never searches them, he considers it a matter of his personal safety. It is good to see a person from his community on full-time for the city as this is Aboriginal awareness week across Canada.

There are numbers of private small maintenance contractors about here including one ex police person who lost his job policing through an unfortunate choice he made to assault a native prisoner.The city enjoys a clean and kept aesthetic through the 5 months of the local growing season. It is working hard at promoting a safe and stable place to spend vacation time.

From the microcosm that is Merritt KDG

Today in history, May 27, 1933

Walt Disney releases the cartoon film three little pigs and the theme song:  Who’s afraid the big bad wolf.

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Stats can follow up!

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May 24, 2011

Census:

Today the crew of stats can are training for the follow up that started on the 20th, the legally required survey was for residence on  the 1oth of May and a follow up of households has started today.

Very simple form deals with language and domicile , if you answer yes to the Farming involvement the only other question you will get another form later.

Today in History: May 24,1893

Anti saloon league founded , by Howard H Russel of  Oberlin Ohio.

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All candidates forum

Filed under: Politics and Politicians, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 21, 2011

Five federal candidates spoke to an interested crowd of about 110 people last evening. Conservative , Green , New democratic, Liberal and an independent conservative. had an opening statement, responded to questions and a closing statement. The forum was moderated by a journalist from the local radio station.

Five  minute openings and 2 minute questions were the right  mix to get a feel for the hopefuls.

If a winner could be chosen I would say subjectively that John Kidder came off as the most confident and demonstrating knowledge and insight, representing the  Liberal Party he has a lot of experience and tends toward nationalism in arts and culture.

The conservative incumbent seat, and new candidate  Albas also had  a confident view point  and party line., all the candidates seemed qualified for Parliament and word that means talking place….

A source says that the official ballet include another independent.

The ballet is

  1. John Kidder-Liberal
  2. Dan Albas Conservative
  3. Green,Dan Bouchard
  4. NDP,David Finnis
  5. Conservative independent, Sean Upshaw
  6. Independent, Dietrich Wittel

Note , Kidders sister Margo is supporting him  on the hustings Margo played Lois Lane in superman in the film series in the 1970s

Today in History, April 21,1994

First extra solar planets discovered.

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Bus shelters

Filed under: Government Works, Tourists, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 20, 2011

Transit shelters, the city is putting out tenders for installing bus shelters 4 of them in locations chosen by the Nicola Transportation Society are being planned .Tender date deadline early May. Locations according to a confirmed source are:

  1. Intersection of Merritt Avenue and Garcia Street.
  2. Menzies Street near Subway.
  3. Voght Street Near Subway.
  4. Coldwater avenue near Garcia Street.

 

Today in History, April 20th, 1303

The University of Rome,La Spanienza is begun  by the Pope.

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Week in pictures, 16/04/11

Filed under: Flora, Government Works, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 16, 2011

Merritt, British Columbia Canada.

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Vancouver Aquarium Vehicles

Filed under: -Photography, Enterprize, Environment, Fauna, Fish, Government Works, Social Activism, Sports and Leisure, Tourists, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 14, 2011

A great attraction to the lower mainland is the Vancouver Aquarium. A noble cause and an expensive one it has the support of the corporate community. A Van stopping here shows a great Public relations value to its BC Hydro sponsor.We are with in a few hours of the facility and it is often used for field trips and an interest point when visiting outside this small community. We also get a great collage of vehicle traffic stopping here on their way to major centers.

Today in History, April 14th 1999

Hailstorm in Australia causes 2.3 billion in insured damage.

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Power pole replacement

Filed under: Enterprize, Government Works, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
April 11, 2011

The local power utility yard has  been busy replacing power poles in the last few years. When asked, a person on the crew said that sometimes they replace poles completely in a particular area. However most of the replacement comes from the results of  drilling and testing poles. The poles have plastic plugs put in them and numbers of them can be seen in some poles.

The telephone company also has lines on some hydro poles  lower then the power lines and they must coöperate in maintenance..

About twenty years ago  the utility drove galvanised steel beams by some  poles and bolted them to the beams.They are not apparently doing that now. And when asked about scheduling  the source said he was not aware of any schedule and that  it was ad hoc as far as replacement was concerned.

Today in History, April,11,1976

Apple personal computer created.

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