Thursday January 16, 2014 (Vol. 39 No. 5)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
A N D
S O U T H
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
Holding court: Three south-end teams – Southridge, Lord Tweedsmuir and Tamanawis – have moved on to the second round of the Surrey RCMP Basketball Classic. i see page 27
Mayor warned last summer of potential disaster, as BNSF pursues talks with Semiahmoo First Nation
Train-trestle replacement still awaits Alex Browne Staff Reporter
BNSF is still negotiating with Semiahmoo First Nation for access to build a longawaited replacement for the Little Campbell River railway bridge in South Surrey. And the company’s desire to get the $1.3-million project underway as soon as possible is unchanged, according to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad spokesperson Gus Melonas.
“We’re continuing to pursue the discussion process,” he told Peace Arch News Tuesday, standing by statements made last August that the company had hoped to get started on the project before the end of 2013. “We’re hoping to expedite a remedy,” Melonas added, but declined to elaborate further. Semiahmoo band councillor Joanne Charles has not return PAN’s request for comment. The decaying bridge – originally constructed
in 1921, with an 80-foot steel replacement span constructed in the early 1940s – sits on a BNSF-owned right of way through the Semiahmoo First Nation reserve. While ongoing maintenance work can be done from the rail bed, construction of a new bridge will require the building of a temporary road onto Semiahmoo First Nation property, plus access for driving pilings. Corrosion of the bridge drew safety criti-
cism last summer from Bill Brehl, teamsters Canada Rail Conference Maintenance of Way Employees Division president, and BC NDP leader Adrian Dix. Following the disastrous derailment in Lac-Mégantic, Que., White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin wrote to Transport Canada last July with the city’s concerns about the condition of the bridge. i see page 4
Skyline highlights White Rock’s shoreline is serene yet eerie in this time-exposure captured last week from across the bay, from the Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine. Gord Goble photo
Councillor frustrated after White Rock agrees to lease former church building to private business
City rental ‘already decided behind closed doors’ Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
A decision to lease out a building on White Rock’s civic campus to a commercial entity puts the city in competition with the businesses it purports to support. So says Coun. Helen Fathers, who made the strong statements Monday, prior to voting against giving third and final reading to zoning amendments that enable the 1174 Fir St. building in question to be used for professional or semi-professional purposes.
“There are dozens and dozens of empty vacant properties awaiting the possibility of a leasing tenant,” Fathers said, reading from a prepared statement. “It is council’s job to help build our core and town centre by encouraging business into these vacant spots. We should not be in competition with them. Do we desperately need these funds from the tenant so badly that our city would fold without them?” The building – the former home of the First Church of Christ, Scientist – was pur-
chased in 2010 for $1.6 million, completing the city’s ownership of the entire block occupied by its civic, police, fire and library services. The city took full possession in February 2012, and voted last May to direct staff to proceed with $200,000 in upgrades. Determining the best use for the building became the source of controversy last summer, after council voted by a narrow margin (4-3) in July to shift their chambers into the space – in support of a motion by Fathers – then reversed the decision in September after
Coun. Bill Lawrence withdrew his support. Couns. Larry Robinson and Al Campbell had also supported moving the chambers. Following the September rethink, Robinson and Fathers – questioning the legality of the move – called for a special council meeting to get to the bottom of what transpired. While they withdrew that call in short order, Fathers followed with a motion for a second legal opinion on the September decision. That, too, was defeated by a 4-3 vote. i see page 10
Independent & Assisted Living Community for Seniors VISIT US ON THE WEB: REAL ESTATE • STRATA MANAGEMENT www.hughmckinnon.com COMMERCIAL MANAGEMENT HOUSE RENTALS 604-531-1909
Largest Suites, Best Value on the Peninsula! 15366 17th Avenue White Rock
604-531-1160