B.C. Views Inconvenient truth of pine beetle. p6
Fern Crescent scenic, but is it safe? p10
THE NEWS
Arts&life Emerald Pig in a ‘Fine balancing act.’ p17
www.mapleridgenews.com Wednesday, April 30, 2014 · Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · Delivery: 604-466-6397
Too late to lower tax increase
Call to order Centennial narrator Erin Mark and Staff Sgt. Major John Buis, playing a poundkeeper, take part in a re-enactment of the inaugural Pitt Meadows council meeting on Friday. See story, p3. Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
Three Pitt councillors vow to keep eyes on spending by Moni s ha M a r tin s staff reporter
A bylaw that sets this year’s tax increase has won the reluctant support of three Pitt Meadows councillors, quelling fears that a split council would put tax collection in jeopardy. Couns. Bruce Bell, Janis Elkerton and Dave Murray said they would vote to pass the 2014 property tax rate bylaw at a meeting Tuesday as they ran out of time to slash this year’s tax increase any further. “We’re stuck with putting the budget through,” Elkerton said Monday. “We have to deal with the reality that we have to have a budget passed by May.” Failure to pass a property tax rate bylaw amounts to an offence under B.C.’s Community Charter, which requires municipalities to annually adopt a bylaw that authorizes them to collect taxes. See Taxes, p4
Residents object to closing dog park Noise the problem at Volker off-leash area by P hi l M e l nych u k staff reporter
Phil Melnychuk/THE NEWS
Gordon Westrand, with Spud, wishes the parks board consulted park users more.
Spud isn’t a big dog, but he still likes to run around and get some exercise and sniff out some of his peers in a safe environment. As of June 10, though, when the off-leash area in Volker Park closes and the fence is removed, Spud, a cairn terrier, will be look-
ing for a new playground. “I’m upset with fact it’s being closed,” said Gordon Westrand, Spud’s owner. “I just don’t think the public is being told why it’s being done.” The Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Parks and Leisure Services Commission made the decision at its April 10 meeting after hearing from residents who live nearby. Parks and facilities director David Boag said the residents had a compelling case. “The closure, I would say, is
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stall the fence. A water fountain for the playground and a tap for the park was installed for $10,000. Last July, dog walkers found broken auto glass in the off-leash area. And a month ago, Westrand and his wife found about 40 tacks strewn on the ground. But noise, not vandalism, was the deciding factor, Boag said. “The commission just felt it was just too great a burden to put on folks in that neighbourhood.” See Dog park, p5
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largely about the noise,” although there were also complaints about dust and people walking dogs outside the fence. People were upset about being woken early on Sunday mornings or from dogs barking after hours. Video clips backed up the residents’ concerns. “I would say the biggest part is the noise throughout the day for the people who live in such close proximity to the park,” Boag said. The off-leash section of the park has been open for about four years and cost about $5,000 to in-
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