WEDNESDAY
S I N C E
JANUARY 29, 2014
1 8 9 5 Midget Reps reach final
Vol. 119, Issue 16
105
$
INCLUDING G.S.T.
Follow us online
Page 9
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Council sticks with gateway feature plan
STARTING YOUNG
No lights for bridge this year BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
Downtown Trail will not be illuminated in lights this year, but Victoria Street will be framed with gateways features, according to a decision Trail council members made during the Monday governance meeting. Earlier this month, council was approached by the Downtown Opportunities and Action Committee (DOAC), a community group that proposed a bridge lighting plan be considered this year over the installation of sizeable gateway features at opposite ends of Victoria Street. Mike Martin, DOAC chair, pitched the novel “It’s more idea to council citing about that themed bridge lightfinishing ing would add immediate visual impact to downwhat we town, and the gateway started.” pillars could get lost in LARRY ABENANTE city landscape. However, in order to cover the $390,000 cost to light up the Victoria Street Bridge, the group proposed that the current plan to install the four arched gateways be deferred or cancelled all together. “It’s more about finishing what we started,” explained Larry Abenante, city works manager. “We want to complete the projects that are underway and expected to be completed by June,” he said. “Once we finish the pedestrian crossing that we plan to light a certain way, that look will be carried over to the new bridge sometime down the road.” When deciding the benefits or disadvantages of changing the downtown plan to include bridge lighting, the city consulted David James, a landscape architect from MMM Group, a Kelowna firm that designed the revitalization plan. He maintained the gateways are designed with the intent of attracting people day and night into the downtown core, whereas bridge lighting would have impact only at night and actual vantage points to view the light show, are limited. Additionally, the city has secured the firm price, $363,000 from Hil-Tech Construction for the supply and installation of the four features and has acquired the necessary permits from the Ministry of Transportation. Although the bridge lighting proposal was See COUNCIL, Page 3
SHERI REGNIER PHOTO
One-year-old David Lee is already wise beyond that year and showed off his computer skills Tuesday afternoon at the Trail and District Public Library. Upcoming projects at the library include expanded youth and early education programs and senior technology education.
Trail maintains position on recreation cost sharing BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
With the ball back in Trail’s court during council Monday night, the city bounced back with a statement about its position regarding recreational cost sharing. The discussion follows a public meeting the Beaver Valley recreation committee held at the Fruitvale Memorial Hall last week, to provide background information to residents in Area A, Montrose and Fruitvale, regarding the end of a recreational cost sharing agreement with the City of Trail. “With regard to the city’s willingness, there appears to be some misinformation communicated to the public,” explained Coun. Kevin Jolly, addressing the issue during “new business” on the night’s agenda. “And I would like to set
Mario and Thea...
We get Results! Thea
250.231.1661
Mario
250.368.1027
SOLD
the record straight tonight and make the following motion to clear it up.” Jolly motioned that the city officially state its willingness to renegotiate or renew the recreation agreement, in letter form, with Beaver Valley and its stakeholder communities. He proposed that Trail offer the same cost proportionate model as the previous five-year contract but include a more flexible time commitment of one to three years. “This will allow the option of providing a continuation of existing services for residents while the boundary extension initiative concludes and the impacts are more clearly understood.” Discussion ensued between the councillors regarding the terms of the negotiation, however Jolly was firm in stance. “This is a re-statement of our pos-
ition and is based on what we already told them we were prepared to do two months ago.” Mayor Dieter Bogs said that recreation continues to be a hot topic in Trail and the surrounding communities, “but the issue of support of facilities is not unique to Trail,” citing Cranbrook, Penticton and Vernon as cities with similar recreational agreements in place. He furthered that a letter be sent to the premier and the annual conference of the province’s mayors, to address the unwillingness of communities to help support recreational facilities. “This is truly an issue,” said Bogs. “The beautiful facilities that we all have in our communities and the reluctance to help support them is a major issue and some actions need to take place.” See MAYOR, Page 3
Contact the Times: Phone: FineLine250-368-8551 Technologies 62937 Index 9 Fax:JN250-368-8550 80% 1.5 BWR NU Newsroom: 250-364-1242
299,000
$
Canada Post, Contract number 42068012
4 Bed 2 Bath In-Law Suite 1402 Tulip St, Glenmerry
Over 3700 SqFt. Perfect Family Home!! 760 Carlyle St, Warfield
To view ALL of our listings go to: greatertrailrealestate.com
All Pro Realty
Mario & Thea