Wednesday, October. 14,1992

CastlecearBYELECTION ’92

Three candidates, one seat

When and where...
Voting for the
byelection takes place
this Saturday at
council chambers at
1402 Columbia Ave.
The polls are open
from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Who can vote...

To be eligible to
vote, you must be a
Canadian citizen 19
years of age or older.
You must also have
resided in British
Columbia for at least
six months and your
current residence has
to be in the municipal+
ity of Castlegar.

You do not have to
register as a voter
before the byelection.
Registration will be
taken the same time
as the election.

Municipal property
owners who don’t live
in the city can vote by
applying for registra-
tion as a non-resident
property owner.

Corporations are
entitled to be listed as
an elector, and can
appoint an agent to
vote so long as the
controlling share-
holder is not a Castle-
gar resident. In some
past municipal
elections, corporations
in Castlegar have
signed up to vote.
RCMP building...

In addition to
casting your ballot of
who you would like to
elect as city councillor,
expect. to vote on the
proposed RCMP
building. The project is
estimated to cost $1.7
million.

Advanced polls...

The turnout for
voters from the
advanced polls is up
considerably from the
paving referendum in
December 1991.

One hundred and
twenty one people
came out to vote
Friday, compared to 47
| people who took
‘advantage of - the
| advance polls the last
|time around. The
} overall turnout from
1 last year’s referendum

was 19.5 per cent.

In the last
J referendum, 4,387
+ residents were eligible

Renee Read.

about Castlegar.

1. Should the proposed $1.7 million
RCMP building be approved?
“Absolutely, yes,” Gairns said, “I
personally am not satisfied it’s the
best location, but if it’s acceptable to
(the RCMP) then it’s acceptable to
me.”

2. Should council proceed with plans
to renovate the existing city hall for
$900,000?

Gairns said no. “I don’t think
anybody can take pride in that city
hall,” he said. “I’ve been told that
option was taken because they don’t
want it to go to referendum.”

3. How would you like to see new
business attracted to Castlegar?
Would that include incentives?

Gairns said, “the municipality is not

1. Should the proposed $1.7 million
RCMP building be approved?

“Yes. I totally agree,” Green said. “I
would like to see it more centrally
located. (The RCMP) protect all of
Castlegar.”

2. Should council proceed with plans
to renovate the existing city hall for
$900,000?

Green said yes, but not right now.
He said it’s too much money for an old
building.

“When you say $900,000 it’s an
estimate, and we all know what
happens to estimates.”

3. How would you like to see new
business attracted to Castlegar?
Would that include incentives?

“(New companies) find it tough to

locate in Castlegar.” Green said tax

1. Should the proposed $1.7 million
RCMP building be approved?

“I feel it’s each person's individual
choice to vote yes or no, but they
should get informed,” Read said.
“Personally, I will be voting yes.

“Now’s the time to do it.”

2. Should council proceed with plans
to renovate the existing city hall for
$900,000?

Based on the findings of a

committee, Read supports the move.
“Apparently the committee looking
into renovating... have found the city
hall that is there now can be
renovated for $900,000 and is good for
another 20 years.”
3. How would you like to see new
business attracted to Castlegar?
Would that include incentives?

“We have a lot of home-based

This Saturday, Castlegar voters will head to the
polls to elect one of three candidates to fill the
vacant council seat — Dave Gairns, Doug Green or

As a prelude to Saturday’s byelection, News
reporter Neil Rachynski offers readers an inside
look into each candidate’s thoughts and feelings

government.

of Castlegar.

Dave Gairns: 58-year-old Municipal Consultant

in a good position to
provide incentives.”

Instead, Gairns said
the municipality
should create a
climate that would
encourage new
businesses to our area.
4. How do you feel
about borrowing funds
for city projects?

“Do as much as you
can with current revenues,” Gairns
said.

He uttered caution about heavy
debts and “relying on Celgar’s tax
dollars.”

5. On referendums, what kind and how
many projects should go to the public

Dave Gairns

Doug Green: 45-year-old B.C. Tel Cable Splicer

and service incentives
should be provided to
expand the
employment base.

4. How do you feel
about borrowing
funds for city
projects?

Green doesn’t
believe in borrowing
large sums of money.
He said the city
should only borrow funds when it’s
absolutely necessary.

5. On referendums, what kind and how
many projects should go to the public
for a vote?

Green would like to see projects
costing more than $700,000 go to
referendum.

Doug Green

businesses and they
can be expanded into
storefront
businesses.” Read also
said the city should
let potential investors
“know how central-
ized we are.”

4. How do you feel
about borrowing
funds for city
projects?

“Of course there’s got to be a limit.
It has to be beneficial to everyone,”
Read said. She said the city must
decide if it can both afford a loan and
whether or not a project is really
needed.

5. On referendums, what kind and how
many projects should go to the public
for a vote?

Renee Read

All three candidates were asked seven identical
questions regarding everything from spending and
special projects to accountability and open

The News encourages everyone to read the
positions of each candidate and cast their ballot for
whomever they feel can best represent the citizens

for a vote?

Gairns feels council should find out
if the public wants a project in the
first place. He also said what hasn’t
been addressed is that city hall’s
renovation plans would see the
elimination of the north firehall.

6. Do you approve of the downtown
revitalization project?

“It has moved very, very slowly,” he
said. “Like anybody else I have yet to
see some evidence, although there
have been some facade
improvements.”

7. How will you deal with disclosure of
information and openness of council?

“I will not be openly critical of
collective council decisions to which I
had input.”

He said council should find out if
the public wants a project done
“before you start preliminary
planning and drawings. Commit the
money to design after approval.”

6. Do you approve of the downtown
revitalization project?

Green said, “as far as proceeding
further, no.

“We should take a look at what we
need and have to accommodate new
businesses and servicing before we
spend our dollars.” :

7. How will you deal with disclosure of
information and openness of council?

Green wants the public to be aware
of all major decisions council makes.

“There should be something in the
paper all the time when something’s
happening,” he said.

Renee Read: 33-year-old Chamber of Commerce Manager

“You need the consensus of the
public. They should have some say in
it because it’s coming out of their
pocket.”

She said the criteria for a
referendum depends on the project.

6. Do you approve of the downtown
revitalization project?

“Downtown revitalization is a good
project.”

Read said the money put into the
plan is worth it and the program
should continue. “It’s not just the one
business that benefits, everyone
benefits.”

7. How will you deal with disclosure of
information and openness of council?

Read said this is a two-way street.
“(City council) can mail the
information to everyone in Castlegar,
but they can’t make them read it.”

@ Wedriesday, Ditebet 14;-1092"

@ OTEU not willing to accept West
Kootenay Power's latest proposal

Corinne Jackson
ay ee dys

r the Office and Technical Empl ¥
Union held one of its annual reglonal enee:
ings in Trail last night, members of Local 378
had one of their own.

But Paula Stromberg said that the union
was not going to use the meeting as a time to
have members of the local — who walked off
ws job.on July 20 — to vote on WKP’s latest of-

er.

Strikes by both of West Kootenay Power’s
unions looked like they might end last week,
as the International Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers signed an agreement and the OTEU
went back to the negotiating table — the first
time since Aug. 26.

“Last week we met with the members twice
and they were adamant that they didn’t want
to be reviewing anything that didn’t properly
address the pension issue,” OTEU’s commu-
nications director said.

Stromberg said that members have a “huge
concern that the company is not putting

things in writing,” referring to one of the rea-
sons why negotiations broke down last week.

But to Mike Bradshaw, WKP has
not offered anything different than
was offered to the International Brotherhood
of Electrical Workers, including how it has
handled pension plan negotiations.

Pe yay lg as ns pe geen - they are,
should n negotiated at the ainin
table,” he said. ns atin .

According to Bradshaw, the idea of negoti-
ating the pension issue “outside the bargain-
ing process was acceptable to IBEW.

“We agreed to get together and work the de-
tails outside the collective bargaining,” Brad-
shaw said.

He said the two sides agreed to “get on with
negotiating a positive work environment.”

Bradshaw said that “in terms of protocol,
the mediator can call the parties back.

_ “We'd be happy to get back to the table any
time,” he said.

According to Industrial Relations Council
mediator Don Cott, “given the ~~ of the
dispute the union has to decide whether to
stay out lenges, oF not.

‘T'll be ing with (WKP and OTEU) as
the week unfolds.”

PROFESSIONALS

- Anderson Insurance

~ Avenues Hair

-B &J Tax Service

- Berg & Naqvi

— Brian L. Brown, CGA

~ Burt Campbell inc.

— Canada Life Assurance RETAIL

— Castlegar Realty — Safeway

— Castlegar Savings Ins. — Carl's Drugs

- Cohoe Insurance — Cast. Bicycle Shop

— Dr. Brian Gorman — Colourmix Adv.

— Geronazzo, Thompson & — D. McArthur Pro Shop
LeRose — Hall Printing

— Lewis J. Bridgeman — Hall Stationary & Gifts

— Medical Clinic __ Harmony Homes

— Moran & Company — Horizon Computers

- Moroso, Markin & Blaine — Kalawsky Pontiac

— Mutual Life of Canada — Kamyr Construction

-NRS Mountainview — Kel Print

— Polonicoff, Jones & — Kitchen Design Centre
Perehudoff — Kootenay Klothes Kloset

— Rudy Boates Insurance — Bosse's Jewellery

—-M&JGrocery

— Mallard's Sport

— Dairy Queen

— Eastgate Gardens
— Taylor's Place

— The Greek Oven

Agency
— Soligo, Koide, John & Piche
~ Surgenor & Rogers — Mike's R.V. Ranch
— Oglow’s Paint
— Pete's TV
— Pharmasave
— Plaza Bakery
— Pumell Distributors
— Rose's Boutique
— Scotties Marina
— Street Front Graphics
— Strong & Associates
— Syringa Park Marina
— West's Dept. Store
— Wizard's Palace of Gems
— Woodland Park Shell

CORPORATE

- ICBC Traffic Safety
— Pope & Talbot
— West Kootenay Power

FINANCIAL

— Bank of Montreal

- CIBC

— Cast. Svgs. Credit Union

— Investor's Group

— Kootenay Svgs. Credit
Union

— The Castlegar News

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR — Your choice.

THE 1992 PEOPLE'S CHOICE
BUSINESS AWARDS

Sponsored by
CASTLEGAR & DISTRICT Chamber of Commerce ypraver sg Tesmss

‘Serving the City of Castlegar, Areas | and J. (R.0.C.K)

Below are businesses that are Chamber members. These businesses have been nominated within their
particular business category for providing outstanding business performance and service. Please select
one business already listed per category or nominate your own on the blank space provided. Return the
completed form to the Castlegar & District Chamber of Commerce office by Monday, October 26, 1992.
Awards will be presented at a luncheon on Friday, October 30, 1992. : i

| @ NFO
INFOCENTRES (QENTRE

TRANSPORTATION SERVICE

~ Air B.C. — Arrow Lakes Air Cond.
- Highland Hi Hic - Enterprises
— Time Air — Canuck West Hidngs.
— Transport Canada — Cast. Funeral Chapel
— Cast. Import Centre

— Cast. Plumb. & Heating
— Clean-Scene Ent.

— Columbia Auto Serv ice
— Contract Truck Repair
— Dave's Trucking

— Deebels Transport

— Ernie's Towing

— First Response

- G & G Woodwork

— G. Markin & Sons Ltd.
— Gerry's Backhoe Service
— Gough Electric

— Grassroots Gardening
— Hooter's Fitness

- 1.C.G. Liquid Gas

— Kal Tire

— Kamyr Construction

— Kenton’s Auto Body

— Kootenay Office Outfit
— Lurgi Canada Ltd.

- M.K.B. Mechanical

— Oglow Holdings

— Performance West Ent.
— Poor Boys Carpet Clean
— Saniand Electrical

- Savin Copytron

ACCOMMODATIONS

— Arrow Lakes Trailer Park
— Blueberry Hill Bed & Brkf.
— Fireside Motor Inn

— Flamingo Motel

— Hislop’s Campground

— Kootenay Creations Ltd.
— Mistaya Outfitting’

— Sandman Inn
— Scotsman Motor Inn
— Twin Rivers Mote!

ENTERTAINMENT

— Banjo’s Pub

— Cast. & Dist. Golf Club
— Lions Head Pub

— Castlegar & District
Recreational Department

~ Castlegar Selkirk Lions Club

— Kootenay Columbia Child
Care i

— Selkirk Co!

— West Koot. Nat'l Exh.

— West Kootenay
Outdoorsmen

— West Kootenay Fire Safety
— Williams Movng & Storage
— Xerox Canada

THIS BUSINESS WILL.BE HONORED OVERALL AS THE MOST COMMUNITY MINDED BUSINESS.

VOTE FOR » « « a Council that

- earns the respect of those it serves

- is accessible and accountable

- provides all the information - all the time
- seeks public input on all major issues

... and a Councillor that can make it happen!

GAIRNS, David w.

Municipal Consultant

NOW STRIPPING

1986 CHEV S-15 Pick-up
1986 CHEV 1/2 ton 4x4
1985 GMC JIMMY 4x4 2 door
1979 FORD BRONCO 4x4 2 door

Western Auto Wreckers

Granite Road, Nelson Ph. 354-4802

e Open
e Effective
e Efficient

e Team
Worker

TAKE THE LEAD
VOTE READ
FOR COUNSELLOR

had Global A107}2)

Plan to attend these Small
‘Business Week activities!

Business Success for Women Conference
Monday, October 19, 8:30-4:30
Fireside Motor Inn
Call 1-800-667-7579 for a brochure

Home Based Business Workshop Il (Marketing)
Tuesday & Wednesday, October 20.& 21, 6:30-10:30
Facilitator: Marilyn Strong
Chamber of Commerce Luncheon &
Presentation/Customer Service Excellence Award
Friday, October 30 at the Fireside Restaurant
Guest Speaker: Sandy Highet, FBDB Reg. Vice-President
Please call your Chamber at 365-6313 to register for
these events.

cE) Mrwey of
bid Economic Development,
C= = Smail Business and Trade

Canada