TUESDAY
S I N C E
OCTOBER 8, 2013
1 8 9 5 Smokies can’t solve Cents
Vol. 118, Issue 158
105
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PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Locked out FortisBC workers reject latest offer
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK
BY ART HARRISON Times Staff
They’ll need more firewood on the picket lines as the summer long battle between Fortis BC and its electrical employees looks like it will stretch on into the colder months. After more than three months on the picket line locked out International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 213 have voted to reject the recommendations of mediator, Vince Ready, continuing the dispute with Fortis BC. “I think that given the circumstances and the fact that they’ve been out for so long already it’s sending a strong message,” said Rod Russell, business manager for IBEW Local 213. “The reason they’re saying no is a lot on principle, they’re being starved into submission but they’re not accepting that.” Ready presented his recommendations to the two sides after two People are days of mediation talks, Sept. 25 and 26. suffering to The company various accepted the recomdegrees and mendations for settlethere’s a lot of ment of the dispute and the bargaining comemotion but mittee for the union I never heard presented the proposed agreement to the memone person bership without recomsay, ‘It’s a mending acceptance or good deal.’” rejection of the deal. IBEW members in ROD RUSSELL the West Kootenay voted on the proposal last Wednessday, followed by their Okanagan counterparts Thursday. “We’re not saying anything about the numbers right now other than it’s not even close (to acceptance),” said Russell. “People are suffering to various degrees and there’s a lot of emotion but I never heard one person say, ‘It’s a good deal.’” Director of Communications for Fortis BC, Joyce Wagenaar, voiced the disappointment of the company in having the summer-long lockout continue into autumn and possibly beyond. “We had thought it was an opportunity to end the dispute,” said Wagenaar. “Given this is just on the heels of the rejection there is no clear path to resolving this for our customers and See NO, Page 3
GUY BERTRAND PHOTO
Hanna Krampl, with firefighter Kyle Boutin, was one of seven Greater Trail elementary students who were chosen to be Fire Chief for a Day on Friday at the Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Department. The young chiefs toured the hall, met firefighters and got a close look at the equipment used in fighting fires. For a full slide show of the Fire Chief for a Day event go to www. traildailytimes.ca. See story Page 3.
Annual tax sale puts properties on the block BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
Three years of tax arrears saw more than a dozen Trail properties go up for auction at city hall Sept. 30. According to the local government act, municipalities can hold an annual sale of properties with taxes that have not been paid for three years, the last Monday in September. Prior to the public auction, the city is required to post the delinquent properties in at least two issues of the local newspaper, and this year, there were 32 properties on that list.
Advertising the property address puts the owner on notice, and in Greater Trail, that usually means taxes are paid up before the end of the month. This year 14 properties went to public auction at the tax sale, confirmed Rino Merlo, Trail’s deputy director of finance. “The total taxes outstanding on these properties was $114,546,” said Merlo. “With an upset price of $122,534.” The upset price refers to outstanding taxes, interest, penalties and fees, which is the minimum price the city must receive at time of sale.
Three individuals attended the 2013 tax sale, but because they did not bid on the properties, as per the local government act, the city was declared the winner, added Merlo. The owner of the tax sale property still has a one-year redemption period to pay the upset price and reclaim their land without losing the title. “Council may, by bylaw, extend for only one year,” explained Merlo. “This is possible if the upset price has not been paid in full within the first year and See FRUITVALE, Page 2
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