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Ladysmith buys land for new municipal hall $920,000 borrowed for downtown lots Craig Spence the chronicle
Hmmm? What’s under the bonnet? Does one kick the tyres? People with a passion for British automobiles got their fill at Transfer Beach July 12, when the Brits on the Beach car show rolled into town. From the luxury and grandeur of a Rolls, to the cheeky freedom of a Mini, just about every model and make of British motor – be it four wheeled or two – was there for inspection. See story on page 5 Craig Spence
Flotilla planned to protest Viki Lyne II Craig Spence
A front-page story in the June 16 Aaron Stone and Stz’uminus Chief Chronicle (Why is this ship still in John Elliott to write federal Minister our harbour?) presented findings of Transport Lisa Rait Feb. 15 exOrganizers of a rally to protest of the marine survey, conducted in pressing ‘grave concern.’ The only action taken to date was the presence of the Viki Lyne II in June 2012, which described the 224 Ladysmith Harbour hope to get a ton, 103 ft long Viki Lyne II as a hulk, last fall, when the Coast Guard flotilla gathered Sunday, July 19, at so rusted that it may only be a layer had 20,000 litres of oil and solvents the bow of the derelict vessel, which of “scale and marine growth, which pumped from the vessel. That still a Coast Guard commissioned study is preventing the inflooding of the leaves the estimated 13,000 litres on board, enough to cause serious enhas said is an environmental disas- hull.” “Disassembly and scrapping of the vironmental and economic damage, ter waiting to happen. “The Federal government needs to vessel is the only certain way of re- jeopardizing the harbour’s shellfish hear from us. Our beaches, sea life moving her current threat to the en- industry, tourism and recreational and harbour industries are in peril,” vironment,” McAllister Marine Sur- access. Pinkerton wants Ladysmith and said Rob Pinkerton Friday, July 10. vey & Design concluded. Three years later, the Viki Lyne II area residents to add their voices to “The vessel Viki Lyne II is in imminent danger of sinking with 13,000 is still moored in Ladysmith Harbour, the call for action. which prompted Ladysmith Mayor liters of oil and solvents on board.” See Flotilla, Page 5 the chronicle
Ladysmith has taken the first step toward relocating to a new municipal hall. Council voted at its July 6 meeting to borrow $920,000 to acquire four properties on the northeast corner of Buller and First Avenue, including the site of the Ladysmith Museum. “This is just a prudent action to take to get that property at a favourable interest rate,” Mayor Aaron Stone said of the decision. The funds will be borrowed from the Municipal Finance Authority at a rate of 1.4 percent, with the option to pay the debt down any time between now and July 2020. The town intends to pay off the debt with proceeds from the sale of other municipally owned properties on Christie Road and Jim Cram Drive. “I still stand strong in the belief that these properties are of much more value to the town than some of the other properties that the town is holding,” Stone said. “Would I trade for these properties? At the snap of my fingers.” Included in the purchase are properties at: 721 First Avenue, where the Ladysmith Museum is housed; and 12, 20 and 26 Buller Street. Stone offered assurances that the Museum will be better off, if and when a new
municipal hall is built on the acquired site. “If we were to move the museum, it would be to a much better and higher valued property,” he said. In a media release issued the day after the council meeting, the Town of Ladysmith said a new municipal hall is needed “because the current working environment is too inefficient. The building is too small and too difficult to update to the standards we require.” “The location of these properties in the downtown core is ideal. As we move forward we will be able to bring our teams together in one location and improve the level of service we offer to our community and those looking to invest in Ladysmith,” Stone is quoted. No construction date has been set for a new municipal hall and planning is in ‘the preliminary stages.’ The town will be exploring options “to share space in the proposed building with other organizations such as the Vancouver Island Regional Library,” states the release. “Until we move forward with the proposed new City Hall, we hope that we may be able to offer the use of these properties to support downtown businesses and community occasions,” Stone is quoted. “They could be used for additional parking or as a location for public events.”
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