Boult shelves $30,000 ratepayer funded US trip - Covid-19

A $30,000 ratepayer-funded study trip to the US and Canada by Mayor Jim Boult and QLDC Chief Executive Mike Theelen has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The trip was scheduled for May 8th to the 23rd, with the possible inclusion of Mayoress Karen Boult, at no additional cost to the ratepayer.

Council CEO Mike Theelen (left) and Jim Boult - travel plans on hold.

An official itinerary for the trip includes the resorts of Aspen, Whistler and Banff with study topics including transport, the environment and tourism.

At yesterday's council meeting Mayor Boult said that it made sense to postpone the trip until the Covid-19 virus outbreak was under control.

There was no opposition to the trip from councillors at the QLDC meeting with there being general agreement that it made sense to wait until Covid-19 was resolved.

It is worth noting that one of the study trip destinations, Reno/Lake Tahoe, is currently looking at expansion of it's airport.

The smaller Lake Tahoe aiport at one stage had a ban on all jet traffic.

You can read the full trip itinerary here.