Council told water project faces shortfall $2.6M distribution extension for Woodlands/Sunshine area TENDERS FOR the pro- posed water distribution ex- tension in the Woodlands/ - Sunshine area of Indian Arm have revealed a $785,060 funding shortfall for the project. By Martin Millerchip Contributing Writer But North Vancouver District Council’s operational services committee will recommend to council that the project proceed with the district providing an ad- ditional $482,060 for the extension from its Tax Sale Land Reserve. The committee also endorsed a staff recommendation that the feasibility of developing district- owned lots in the area to pay for the funding shortfall be in- vestigated, although present coun- cit policy prohibits further devel- opment in Woodlands/Sunshine. Ef council commits land reserve funds to the water distribution project, it will cither have to reduce 1993 capital spending or seli lots in the Wocdlands area. Residents drawing their drinking water from Sunshine, Allan, Ostler and Granger creeks have been lobbying the district for a solution to their lack of safe drinking water since North Shore Health’s water quality testing program found unacceptably high fecal coliform levels in the creeks in 1988. The health department subse- quently issued an order to residents to pre-boil and disinfect with bieach all water taken from the creeks prior to using it. A district engineering réport by J. D. McLean notes, ‘These creeks are a questionable source for drinking water year-round as they are dry in the summer months, usually have high fecal coliform counts during the sum- mer and occasionally freeze in the winter. As a result the health and safety of the residents is seriously compromised on a regular basis.”’ Homeowners in the area ap- peared as a delegation to council on Tuesday night and urged the operational services commitiee io complete the water supply project this year. “NORTH VANCOUVER DISTRICT COUNCIL They pointed out that they still cannot bathe infants who might ingest water without chlorinating the bath water. “The potential for serious ill- ness remains a threat to our community. A number of cases of giardia bacteria have been con- firmed in our residents, in spite of increased efforts to purify local water stores,’’ said Cindy Horton. The initial estimate for exten- ding the district's water supply system to the Woodlands area was $2,687,000 -—- very close to the most recent estimate of $2,652,000, which was based on the tenders received for the water distribution project. But the project got municipal and provincial funding based on a $1,778,000 estimate prepared by the consulting engineering firm of Dayton & Knight Lid. in 1991, The project includes tenders for four components: @a supply main from River to Woodlands; @a distribution main in the Woodlands/Sunshine area; @ a reservoir; @ and a pump station. Tender vids for the installation of the supply main along Indian River Road and construction of a reservoir were very close to their Projected costs, but the cost of the distribution main through the Woodlands/Sunshine area will be over $1.1 million alone. Contractors anticipate problems with restricted access, rock blasting, waste disposal and dam- age control. Because the original cost- estimate has turned out to be low, staff hope that the province will stick to the agreed cost-sharing formula and come up with another $284,875. The funding for the project, if approved by the province, would require per-lot contributions of: @ $8,000 from each benefiting owner; @ $13,092 from the district; @ $12,233 from the province. Council will consider the com- mittee’s recommendations at its April 27 meeting. Indian Moth spraying resumes LIMITED AERIAL spraying applications to eradicate the Asian gypsy moth continued early Friday on the North Shore. Helicopter spraying (took place in the upper Lynn Valley area. To press time Friday, helicopter spraying has still to be completed in the Eagle Harbour residential area. A DC-6 plane also sprayed an area near Horseshoe Bay On Friday, Agriculture Canada spray program members determined that the bacterial insecticide sprayed from the air had sufficiently coated the spray area. White 4” X 4°° cards treated to show the insecticide have been placed throughout the spraying area. The cards are collected after an area has been treated and are examined for evidence of insecticide droplet size and number. A moth program spokesman said that areas that show insuf- ficient insecticide coverage will be spot treated from the air with a helicopter. Sprayed leaf samples have been fed to Asian gypsy moths raised in quarantine in Vic- toria. Said moth program s, Jkesman Jon Bell, The question is if we give these leaves to the moths to feed on, would they die? The answer is yes." Since the first application of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk) was made over the past week, some area residents have linked Btk to adverse physical reactions. Others allege the in- secticide has damaged gardens. NEWS photo Mike Wakefield A FUNNY thing happened on the way to a coffee break for registered nurse Lisa Seaberly (right). She delivered Michael Christopher Filzwieser on Apri! 20 while mom Linda (left) was waiting for the elevator to go up to Lions Gate Hospital's delivery room. Baby makes grand entrance Mother gives birth while waiting for elevator THE NURSES told Linda Filzwieser that she- should name her new baby Otis. By Anna Marie D’Angelo News Reporter But Michael Christopher was not exactly born in an elevator on April 20, he was born outside the elevator doors while Mom_ was waiting to go up to the delivery room. “*) almost Filzwieser. Michael Christopher weighed five pounds 10 ounces when he was born at 9:30 a.m. at Lions Gate Hospital after Filzwieser’s labor pains began 9: midnight. in setrospect, the Canyon Heights resident said she should have gone to the hospital when she woke up at 6:15 a.m. Filzwieser’s husband, Ernie, drove her to the hospital, and he was hurrying her along to get in- side when someone brought Filzwieser a wheelchair. When Filzwieser reached the el- evator doors, registered nurse Lisa Seaberly was going for her coffee break. “I saw her with the admitting made it,’’ said clerk, and then I heard her say, ‘1 think the baby is coming,’ and then she shouted, ‘The baby is coming out!’’’ said Seaberly. Seaberly, a critical-care nurse, handed her coffee cup to a co- worker and delivered Michael Christopher by removing him from within Filzwieser's pant leg. “She picked him out of my pants,’’ said Filzwieser. Seaberly covered the baby with a blanket, careful not to pull the infant’s umbilical cord. The blanket was from a baby bag brought along by Ernie. “I often work on the triage desk in emergency, and I’ve always wondered that one of these days a woman would pop right here,’’ said Seaberly. When the elevator finally arriv- ed, there were people inside and the entire group went down to the basement before going up to maternity. Michael Christopher was placed in an incubator for a while and went home with his mother the next day tG meet his four-year- old brother, Steven. ‘*He’s made a grand entrance,” said Filzwieser. ‘‘They said we woke up the whole hospital.’” ES CET EE TY TS Ve index & High Profiles @ High Tech @ Horoscopes @ Lifestyles @ Municipal Affairs @ Spiritually Speaking & Vintage Years Weather Monday and Tuesday, unsettled conditions with showers likely. Highs 16°C, Lows 7°C. Second Class Registration Number 3885