City of Waterloo to expand food and beverage services
Waterloo city councillors voted to take over food and beverage services from private operators at places including RIM Park and the Waterloo Recreational Complex. The change will happen at eight locations city-wide. The transition will occur by the end of 2014 and will cost the city $363,000 in unplanned money – 196,000 on food equipment and $168,000 on operating costs. Part of the reasoning behind the switch was that having privatized food services prohibited people from bringing in their own food for events, which sometimes discouraged use of the venues.
Employees who are currently employed at these locations will be protected by the Employment Standards Act. It is anticipated that this change will bring in about $100,000 to the city annually.
Man arrested after shots fired in Wilmot Township
Waterloo Regional Police arrested a man at the University of Waterloo (UW) on Saturday after hearing reports that he had been firing shots in a rural area off Cedar Grove Road. Despite the fact that a semi-automatic rifle, ammunition and a frankenstein mask were discovered in the man’s car, the gun activity was determined not to be of a dangerous nature. He was doing target practice, but as the area is popular for hikers, it alarmed a nearby resident.
The 25-year-old man is facing charges of weapons dangerous to the public, unsafe storage of a firearm and careless use of a firearm. His weapon, which was registered, was taken by police.