WEDNESDAY
S I N C E
MARCH 26, 2014
1 8 9 5 Hawks Conference Champions
Vol. 119, Issue 48
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PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
TRAIL
City one step closer to new foot bridge BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
ART HARRISON PHOTO
A group of over 70 disgruntled Village of Warfield residents gathered for the regular council meeting to express their dissatisfaction with council’s decision to opt out of the recreation and culture agreement with the City of Trail.
Warfield council’s decision to opt out of TRP draws attention BY ART HARRISON Times Staff
Warfield village council discovered a sure fire method to encourage the citizens of their community to get involved in civic politics; take away their library cards. Over 70 people gathered at the Village of Warfield council chambers Monday evening to voice their objections to council’s decision to opt out of the Trail Resident Program (TRP), which leaves village residents handing over cash to gain access to the City of Trail’s library and recreational facilities. “I took my daughter to the library the other day for a learning and play day and was told I would have to pay cash
and wait for a full or partial reimbursement from the village,” said Warfield resident Lisa Milne. “I would have had to pay $225 that day. I ended up walking away from a morning at the library.” Six recognized delegates, including Milne, from the community had the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction with the decision before the village council and a standing room only crowd of just over 70 neighbours who shared their outrage. “This should be about communities sharing their resources, culture, and infrastructure. Opting out is a step backwards,” said Betty Anne Marino. “This is about interdependence, we gain when
our neighbours gain.” Marino went on to ask council to revisit their decision and hold a public meeting where the citizens of Warfield would have the opportunity to discuss the ramifications of making such a decision, hold a referendum on the decision in the coming civic election, if necessary, and even raised the spectre of creating a regional municipality. Other delegates discussed the effect of having to pay fees up-front would have on low income residents, the negative effects on literacy development, and the additional costs to the village coffers of administrative and mailing costs associated with reimbursements.
Throughout the presentations, Mayor Bert Crockett and council members had little to say other than reassuring the residents that their concerns were heard and that a response from council would be forthcoming in the mail. After the delegate’s submissions, council quickly went through their agenda and declared the remainder of the meeting “in-camera,” asking the villagers to clear the chambers. Some members of the crowd objected to the lack of a question and answer period during the council meeting to which Crockett responded that it wasn’t required as part of their regular meetings. See IN-CAMERA, Page 3
A new pathway across the Columbia River might only be a hop, skip and a jump away now that Trail council authorized a city loan of almost $5 million toward construction of a pedestrian bridge at the south end of town. The city has been considering second crossing options since a 2011 public consultation revealed that Trail residents supported a vehicular crossing but naysayed the associated property tax hike related to a multimillion dollar bridge construction. Instead, Trail council opted to build a foot-traffic only bridge that will not raise property taxes because the city’s portion of the $9.8 million project will be paid off over 25 years through long-term infrastructure funding called the Federal Gas Tax revenue. “We have to build a bridge,” noted Trail Mayor Dieter Bogs, after the loan authorization bylaw was given three readings during Monday’s council meeting. “We don’t have a choice anymore.” Bogs was referring to the aging sewer line which hangs on the Old Bridge. The project’s priority was upped by the city and its regional sewer part-
ners in Rossland and Warfield after a pipe burst underneath the out-of-service bridge in 2012, and a large amount of liquid sewage seeped into the Columbia River. The structure will house a new regional waterline, sewer main and fibre optic conduit but only Trail will cover the costs associated with dual purpose walkway, which will allow pedestrian crossing and add visual appeal to the utility lines. Assuming the city finances the $5 million loan over that term, the annual debt payment is estimated to be $346,650, explained David Perehudoff, Trail’s chief administrative officer (CAO). Trail currently receives a yearly gas tax payment of $341,750, with future revenues forecast to increase, he added. Additionally, the city estimates that the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) will fork over about $4 million to cover the cost of attaching the new utility lines to the structure. “Given that the RDKB must proceed with the pipe bridge, the enhancement to add the walkway and city utilities can only be done as part of this joint venture and is a one-time opportunity,” said Perehudoff. See RESIDENTS, 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
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