LangleyAdvance
Dominate the field pg A27
Your community newspaper since 1931
Friday, December 17, 2010
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Sunday outing
SELLING LANGLEY ONE YARD AT A TIME
Meet four-legged heroes
Call
KEITH SETTER
People are invited to a horse therapy group’s open house.
FREE Market Evaluation
by Heather Colpitts
for a
604-533-3491 Treeland Realty
We’re in Your Backyard
hcolpitts@langleyadvance.com
The first Christmas was in a barn so it seems fitting that a local equine therapy program invite the community into its barns to celebrate the holidays. Valley Therapeutic, the equine therapy program, is throwing open the stable door so people can meet the humans and horses who are behind the long-running charity. The Christmas open house runs 1-3 p.m. on Sunday. That’s when people can meet some new members of the VTEA crew, including Reba, an Anglo that is 24 years old, eight-year-old Nickers, an Austrian breed called a Haflinger, the 11-year-old Clydesdale Andy and King, a Belgian of 18 years of age. VTEA requires older horses work with special needs riders. The new arrivals are being
tested and assessed to ensure they can meet the needs of the clients. Pete Creamore, the president of the non-profit association, said Reba, for instance, was used for weddings and public functions. “She’s about as laid back as they come,” he explained. Each of them will join the VTEA’s 10 other horses. There will be some special guests stopping by Sunday that the public can also meet. “Santa will pop in of course,” explained Vivianne Weldord, VTEA’s fundraising manager. Cherie Kramer of Pint Size Miniature Horses in Aldergrove will also be bringing cherubic cousins of the VTEA horses. The BC Hot Rod Association is slated to bring out some of the members’ timeless automobiles (weather dependent). Adding to the special day is therapeutic riding volunteer Dale Hopkins, who is also a magician. The open house takes place in the VTEA indoor’s riding arena at 3330 256th St.
Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance
Laid-back Reba, a 24-year-old Anglo, is perfect for helping special needs riders. She and head instructor Julie Matijiw will be on hand at a VTEA open house.
Township politics
Lack of paper trail cost $8.8million
AT 20645
Mayor and council are arguing about whether the Township got a raw deal over the LEC.
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mclaxton@langleyadvance.com
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A final payment to developers has driven the total cost of the Langley Events Centre up to $66.2 million. On Tuesday, the Township and province announced that the LEC’s final price tag, more than $8.83 million over the last reported cost of $57.4 million. Mayor Rick Green decried the deal, saying if paid off all at once it would amount to a 10 per cent tax increase. The extra money is part of a settlement with the Langley Development Group, Rick Green which oversaw construcTownship mayor tion of the facility, and was intended to operate it in a public-private partnership arrangement. However, when the Township decided earlier this year to take over management of the centre, they had to pay LDG. Without an agreement in advance, the amount of the payout became the focus of a year-
tion. Council was informed and updated long, back and forth involving lawyers and throughout the process and at no time was accountants. there any risk to the taxpayer.” Green blamed the final bill on the lack of The basis for the payout was the similar an operating agreement and poor planning in deal struck by the Prospera general, including not spelling Centre in Chilliwack with its out costs in advance. builders. There, the payout was “In short, there was a comCOMMENT about $5 million. The LEC is plete lack of a business plan, ONLINE considerably larger. no partnership agreement, no WWW.LANGLEYADVANCE.COM Accountants BDO Dunwoody P3 agreement with a private completed a report in October partner and no satisfactory with several options for the payout, ranging due diligence by those ultimately responfrom $15.4 million to $7.9 million to $5.2 sible,” Green said in a statement he released million. Tuesday afternoon. The report also notes that LDG had asked Other councillors said for anywhere from $11.48 million to $28 milthe costs were based lion. on other agreements in However, LDG offered the $8.83 million which one party left the option in late October, and council accepted. partnership. Coun. Kim Richter voted against the deal, “We didn’t dream as did Green. The vote has only been made up the numbers,” public this week after the final details were said Councillor Steve approved and contracts signed. Ferguson. The original LEC financing deal as Coun. Bev Dornan also announced several years ago was a threedefended the process way split, with the Township, the province, and the ultimate settleCharlie Fox and LDG each paying $15 million for a $45 ment. Township councillor million facility. “I think it was well The facility grew as groups such as the managed, and all the School District, Trinity Western University, partners were honourable,” Dornan said. and Langley Gymnastics joined the deal and “Despite what Mayor Green claims, your the planned building expanded in both size tax dollars were safe,” wrote Coun. Charlie and cost. Fox in an open letter in response to the •Tthe mayor’s press release and further comments can be mayor’s release. “There was a solid signed found online at editor Bob Groeneveld’s blog construction agreement in place and an operat http://tiny.cc/v7b94 ational agreement in the works for comple-