The Regional District of Central Kootenay will donate what’s left of its old office furniture to non-profit groups on a first-come, first serve basis.
The organization’s head office at 202 Lakeside Drive in Nelson is in the midst of renovations, part of which involved new furniture to modernize the space and improve efficiency. However, the use of an out-of-town supplier proved controversial.
Surplus furniture was offered first to other regional district services, such as fire halls, satellite offices, and recreation centres, then to member municipalities.
That took care of 70 to 75 per cent of the furniture, the majority of it claimed by fire halls and municipalities. The remaining items, being stored at the North Shore hall, are described as “odds and ends.” Russell Auction in Tarrys expressed no interest in it, saying the cost of transporting the furniture would likely exceed any money made in an auction.
The old board table, which has served the regional district since the mid-1970s, will be donated to the Nelson and District Chamber of Commerce for its new meeting room in the restored CPR station.
The RDCK has purchased a new table that will allow its board room to double as an emergency operations centre.