og ‘Last. winter was great ‘for oo ‘skiers and bad for roads, but as ‘far as the roads were concerned, ' itheré were few problems, said “North Coast Road Maintenance general manager Mike Zylicz during an address to the Terrace and District Chamber of Com- “merce last Thursday: He added, ‘however, ‘We did get" some ‘complaints.”? _ Zylicz said that the company’ s ‘first winter of maintaining the -800 miles of privatized highways in the Terrace area brought an ‘unexpected reaction from mo- ‘torists — high expectations. He ‘attributed many of these com- plaints to public misunderstand- ing of North Coast’s contract with the Ministry of Highways but added that there may have been other reasons too. “You also have to assess whether they’re politically motivated,” _ he said, ‘There are some people. who were dead set against priva- tization, and who would have "used this year as an. opportunity to voice complaint, where in the past they would have accepted it. ed “We would get calls from people almost demanding to. drive the road to Prince Ru- pert,’’ said Zilicz. ‘‘Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, they wanted to drive 60 miles an hour.” But he reminded every- one of conditions a few years ago, “You would think twice. ‘about driving to Prince Rupert. ~ You would put it off for a couple of days until the weather moderated,"’ he said.. ‘‘Public expectations seemed very, very high.’’ But, he said, -‘“We just don’t have the facilities to main- tain all 800 miles of road at the same instantaneous moment.’’ erricé Review — _Wediesday, March 29, 1989” Highways contractor sees e xpansive future -teriance took over:the highways. ‘maintenance’ contract | last. OF CANADA Sayre AND LEASE RATES UNTIL APRIL 8, 1989 ALL FORD AND MERCURY CAR LINES RANGER AND BRONCO II FROM 8.9% ON TERMS UP To. 48 MONTHS “ALL F-SERIES PICKUPS WITH | MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS *500 FACTORY REBATE BALEASING ‘LEASE RATES FROM 9 % ON TERMS | UP TO 48 MONTHS ~— Zylicz explained that this was the reason ministry-set priorities had always existed -for snow removal. ‘First, he said, High- ways 16 and 37 must be cleared, then. school ‘bus routes, then collector streets, and finally, rural subdivisions ‘like ‘those found in Thornhill and Kalum Lake Drive. - But, he added, these guide- lines are ‘applied by the ministry with common sense. “Some of the maintenance standards are near impossible to achieve,’’ he said. Under their contract, ac- cording to Zylicz, North Coast must begin clearing when a fresh. snowfall reaches the two centi- metre mark, and they’re not supposed to allow snow on the road to exceed four centimetres, “But on Hwy. 16 west it some- times snows 40 centimetres in one hour,” he said. And in order to maintain the best possible highway conditions during heavy snowfalls, like those experienced last winter, said Zylicz, there is a final set of guidelines. Rural roads can be. left until snow reaches the 16 centimeter mark, or, if the snow doesn’t reach that level, they can be. left for up to seven days before being cleared, ‘“‘But we would never let it go that far,’’ he promised. ‘“We would: prob- ably get to it that afternoon.” As far as the future is con- cerned, “Things are going to boom and we're going right along with it,’? said one North Coast employee, And for a be- ginning, Zylicz promised rest area maintenance that will ex- ‘ceed maintenance standards of the past by 50 percent. This will enhance the tourist industry, said Zylicz. ~ TERRACE OTEM FORD. DL #5548 4631 KEITH AVENUE, TERRACE, B.C. . 635-4984 ~ CALL TOLL FREE 1-900-772-1128 And further down. the road, privatization will save the tax-. payer. money, too. He said their “contract expires in three years . and he expects stiff competition. And this.competition, he ‘said, will keep the cost down. “There will be a long term cost saving,"”. said Zylicz. He explained that main: tenance companies such as North Coast will be able to sub- mit very competitive bids because, ‘For us as a company, we have a lot better utilization of equipment than highways did.” _@ylicz. pointed out that the ministry wasn’t allowed to com- : pete in the private sector but these private companies can. ‘Through better utilization of | equipment, ‘they can plow driveways, clear and sand park- ing lots, and maintain driveways - and parking lots by patching and crack sealing, In fact Zylicz’ announced plans to try to negotiate. con- tracts with private and forestry owned portions. of the Nass Road in order to provide “a uniform winter standard’’. It’s this extra work, said Zylicz, that is the profit part of their work while the highways maintenance contract serves as a base of operation allowing them to build on their present equipment inventory, But this brought another un- expected complaint which indi-: cated that the controversy over privatization: may be far from over. “‘You’re talking about what used to be a public’ com-— ‘pany. which could not compete - with the’ private sector,” said - one member .of the audience, . “but now you’re competing with : the private sector,” * “¥ou’ve sent letters around advertising dump trucks and other. equipment, * “he com- plained..‘‘I'm in the transporta- tion industry: too and I don’t think this is right, Are you going: to go into. general. freight’ and: low bed ‘service?’ Where i is. ‘this going to stop?’’ Zylicz . countered | by saying North Coast wasn’t “out to put other people out of business’’. He admitted that because they had a “guaranteed ‘contract”’ with the government it would be possible to ‘‘take a loss for a year and put someone else out of business’’. He added, however, their contract had some checks and balances. According “to Zylicz, private contractors who have “historically’’ worked for the ministry are protected. “Our contract stipulates that we have to contract out 22 percent-of our gross annual contract,’’ he said. — But this answer failed to quiet: » the concern. ‘“You’re a big com- pany now and going out after more than you already have,’’ said the complainant. ‘You can start weeding out the little guy and I don’t think that’s: right. For the public sector it’sokay, but for the private individual who owns these trucks and small companies, it’s going to hurt.’’ North Coast Road Main- December” ‘and held .‘the " “fort through 2 a difficult winter, The company has a ihreedyear i 7 . contract based on snowfall rec- ords for the past five years; If ‘last. winter’s snowfall. had. ex- ceeded 150 percent: of ‘that -five. ‘year’ average, a point which Zylicz said was “just reached”? with the last snowfall, the con-. tract has a: ‘cost-plus clause, And Zylicz believes. that last winter was a positive test of the . company’s ability and an indica- 7 tion that the future holds: ‘prom: ise. “I think the province: cers tainly got their money’s worth”. out of us this winter,” he.told |. the Chamber of Commerce, Tt was a rough winter to start, but bo it certainly gave us an opportu- oo nity to demonstrate that 1 weican. do the job — it was a test of our abilities.’ AHEAD | ~The annual continent-wide _ time change is coming up this - weekend. Anyone wanting to re- “main in synch with the rest of us is advised to set the Clocks ahead = one hour before going to bed this coming Saturday evening:- 7 The time. officially . ‘changes - April 2 at 2 a.m. Effective Saturday, April 1, 1989 Terrace Drugs Operated by Northern Healthcare New Store Hours: _ Monday to peursday: 9:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Friday: 9:30 a.m. - rday: Saturday: 9:30 a.m. - 6: 30 p. m.. | Closed: Sundays & Holidays. | If you have any inquires please call _ Allan Dubeau — Manager — 635-7274. . SPRING Oe Ppa Ne oS Be EP AOE Na?