By Mark Squibb
Its natural beauty is already awesome, but Witless Bay is set to look even prettier come tourist time as council has approved contracts to add some manmade charms.
During the April 19 meeting, council moved to appoint Mills & Wright Landscape Architecture as prime consultant on the Lower Pond Tourist Lookout project for $17,150 plus HST.
“We’re just looking to update our tourist lookout down there and make it a bit more of a user-friendly area,” explained councillor Jacob Hayden. “We’ll add some new additions and hopefully draw some people into the area.”
Council also approved the purchase and supply of $3,637, plus HST, worth of building materials to Hickey’s Timber Mart, the lowest qualified bidder.
Councillor Hayden said the materials will be delivered to Her Majesty’s Penitentiary for use in the carpentry program. The Town is expecting four benches, four picnic tables, two lounge chairs in the style of a puffin, and four garbage boxes in return.
It looks like tourists will also have some nicely painted parking lots and roadways to travel on; council awarded the traffic line painting contract to lowest compliant bidder, Clean Sweep Property Maintenace, at a cost of $3,250.
Council is also spending $475 for new Town branded t-shirts for staff and council.
Hayden added the Town received $2,000 from the provincial government through the Confederation 75 Celebration Grant Program to use towards Canada Day celebrations.
Council will coordinate with the Heritage Committee and the Kinsmen to plan the festivities and will also apply for further government funding.
