In the book Hoot what were handed to Chuck Muckle and the other dignitaries to dig up scoopfuls of sand?

In Chapter 20, at the groundbreaking ceremony of Mother Paula's Pancake House, Chuck Muckle and the other dignitaries were given gold painted shovels to scoop up the sand, "Gold-painted shovels were handed out, and on Mr. Muckle's signal all the dignitaries smiled, leaned over, and dug up a scoopful of sand" (Chapter 20, pg 262). This occurs right before Roy calls out to everyone about the owls, and the protest to protect the owls from the construction begins.