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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2018
The voice of Delta since 1922
City sticks with ammonia Emergency response exercise simulates leak at recreation centre
SANDOR GYARMATI
s g y a r m a t i @ d e l t a - o p t i m i s t .c o m
SANDOR GYARMATI
s g y a r m a t i @ d e l t a - o p t i m i s t .c o m
Delta will be sticking with ammonia. The city coordinated an interagency emergency response exercise last Thursday based on a simulated ammonia leak at the South Delta Recreation Centre. Ammonia is used in mechanical refrigeration systems, including those in ice rinks. It’s used in liquid form but becomes a gas once released into the air. The colourless gas is toxic if inhaled. The city notes the training exercise provided an opportunity for staff and stakeholders to practice their response and review emergency protocol for the safe evacuation and containment of a chemical leak. Adjacent community groups, schools and businesses also took part in the exercise by reviewing their own procedures. Delta’s contracted refrigeration plant maintenance provider also completed a full review of ammonia safe work policies and procedures. The exercise was conducted in response to last October’s tragedy in Fernie, B.C. where three workers doing routine maintenance at an ice rink were killed by an ammonia leak. Acting Delta city manager Ken Kuntz said the city is not looking at switching from ammonia to another coolant system. “These are tried and true refrigeration systems and over the years with the WorkSafe and Technical Safety B.C. regulations we’ve had constant upgrades to the safety systems and even the
1.95% tax hike equates to a $45 increase
PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF DELTA
City staff take part in an exercise last Thursday that simulated an ammonia leak at the South Delta Recreation Centre in Tsawwassen. way they’re configured,” he said. “So, for example, you could have your refrigeration system co-mingled with where people came and went in the building. You can’t do any of that anymore. As we replace chillers and other large components, we’ve built separate rooms and separate alarm systems. There’s basically a triple safety system on them and we continue to
upgrade as rules and regulations come along.” Four years ago, an ammonia leak forced the shutdown of the Dawson Creek Curling Club and Memorial Arena. No one was hurt in that incident but the city decided to switch to a Freon coolant system. A consultant’s report for Dawson Creek council noted the majority of refrigerated recrea-
tion facilities in Canada still use ammonia as a refrigerant. At one time that was universal, but over time approximately one-quarter of facilities have converted to Freon, while a few use C02. Mayor Lois Jackson in a news release said Delta will ensure all safety requirements are met and staff are well prepared to respond to the unlikely event of an emergency.
It’s a smaller than usual increase. The city is proposing a property tax increase of 1.95 per cent this year, which works out to about $45 for the average home. That doesn’t include a $25 hike to the utility bill, nor what other taxing authorities like TransLink plan to take from homeowners. The tax increase breaks down to 0.75 per cent to maintain city services, 0.4 per cent for the Civic Building Program and 0.8 per cent for the Neighbourhood Road Improvements Plan. “We did get some significant new growth and that allowed us to lower the tax rate. When we got the Fortis expansion in Tilbury, that was a considerable amount of tax revenue,” said finance director Karl Preuss. He explained the building program will be an ongoing $4 million fund to properly maintain buildings as well as replace smaller ones used by community groups. Last year council approved a 2.75 per cent property tax hike, which worked out to a $61 increase for the average home. The previous year saw a 3.5 per cent hike that translated into an increase of approximately $75 on the Delta portion of the property tax bill. Residents can provide feedback by Jan. 26 by visiting delta.citizenbudget.com, emailing finance@delta.ca or calling 604-946-3230.
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