BLUE RIBBON over the local depots/4A woes’ The Castlegar Su VARIABLE Weather 3A Vol. 5 - No, 20. ‘3 P Prmery te, ‘The weekly newspaper with a dally commitment’ 75 Cents + G.S.T. Fourth Tested by fire! After combatting a grass fire near the sewage lagoons in Raspberry Friday, Robson volunteer firefighter Terry Heagy quickly moves out of the path of the flames. Heagy and other firefighters set smaller fires to backburn the already raging grass fire. Robson Fire Chief Bob Taylor said the department has responded to numerous brush fires in recent weeks, which he believes were intentionally set. The backburning tactic worked worked and the fire was extinguished with minimal effort. SUN STAFF PHOTO / Karen;Kerkhoft City finances healthier RON NORMAN Sun Editor The City of Castlegar's finances are looking healthier, says the head of the accounting firm that audits the city's books. “We're in far better shape than we were last year,” Mike Berg told Castlegar council at its last meeting. Berg, of the firm Berg and Naqvi of Nelson, pointed to the city’s $1.2-million increase in its operating surplus and reserves as the reason for the improved bot- tom line. ‘The city has nearly $4 million in its operating surplus and reserve fund, an increase of more than 30 per cent from the 1994 operating surplus and reserve balance. “So that tells us we're on the right track,” commented Mayor Mike O'Connor. Berg agreed, adding: “I think the city's finances have improved greatly.” He called the reserves a “‘cush- ion” for when “times become dif- ficult.” The city ran surpluses on almost all of its services in 1994 and recorded an overall operating sur- plus of some $198,000. That com- pares to a $1,800 deficit the year before. Berg said the biggest change came in the north sewer operating fund. In 1993 the fund recorded a $15,000 deficit. Last year it ran a $122,000 surplus. The general operating fund reported a surplus of about $23,000; the water fund a surplus of $32,000; and the south sewer fund a surplus of $21,000. The city now boasts a total accumulated operating surplus of some $615,000. It began the year with an accumulated operating surplus of $417,000. See FINANCES 2a Board reviewing plan KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff The Castlegar school district facilities plan won't be imple- mented for a while yet, despite rapid growth in the district Everette Surgenor, superinten dent for Castlegar school district, said comments from a recent public meeting regarding the plan wili go back to the board for discussion. But Surgenor stresses that implementation of any part of the study won't happen until all input from the public is gathered and considered. There is one issue, however, which needs to be dealt with immediately: Kinnaird Middle School (KMS) “KMS is bulging at the seams That's our priority.” Currently KMS is operating at full capacity with 384 students That number is expected to increase to some 420-430 stu- dents by this fall In recognition of the expected growth, facilities consultant Gra ham Argyle recommended that the district “seek funding for the preparation of a facility planning study/second level audit to deter- mine funding requirement to han dle future enrolment demands Other options, said Surgenor, could include bussing some stu dents to Ootischenia school, or the addition of portables as a stop-gap measure “We prefer to find ways to accommodate the students on site so they are all part of the same culture and environment.” See PLAN 2A Gouk says he paid for Cuba trip RON NORMAN | Sun Editor Kootenay West-Revelstoke MP Jim Gouk says he did noth- ing wrong by taking part in a controversial private-sector spon- sored junket to Cuba last month. “I paid my own way,” Gouk told The Castlegar Sun in a telephone interview from the Canadian embassy in Washing- ton, D.C. where he was attend- ing a meeting on the St Lawrence Seaway. The Reform transportation critic and eight other MPs— seven Liberals and an-indepen- dent—went on the cight-day trip that included two days at the Varadero resort town, a bus tour of Havana and a day-trip to a beach to see caves The Tokmakjian Group, a Toronto-area transportation com- pany that would like to sell buses, farm equipment and trucks to Cuba, covered the expenses for all the MPs, their spouses and children—except for Gouk Gouk said he decided some time before taking the trip that he ball field likely to proceed But concerns still need addressing RON NORMAN Sun Editor The fourth ball field at Kin- naird Park will be going ahead if Castlegar council follows the rec- ommendation that came out of last week's public meeting. Councillor Brenda Binnie, council's representative on the Castlegar Ball Users Association, recommended Tuesday that council proceed with the contro- versial field. Council was to vote on the recommendation at its Tuesday night meeting, but its decision was not available for The Castle- gar Sun's press deadline In a memorandum to council, Binnie said that several issues have to be addressed before the fourth field can proceed. They include parking, park mainte nance, playground cquipment and washroom facilities. She also suggested that both ghe ball users association and the Castlegar residents’ commit- tee be asked to participate in any discussions. As well, she said that if required a professional recreation/engineer- ing firm should be hired to help with the planning and develop- ment of Kinnaird Park. More than 200 people turned out at the Community Complex for the public meeting, which was highly spirited. Binnie, who co- hosted the meeting with Council- lor Doug Green, heard from many residents who both in favor and opposed to the ball field. Speakers drew cheers from supporters when they stepped to the microphone Jackie Craig told the meeting that the trees should not be sacri- ficed to make way for another ball field. “I am opposed to the cutting down of trees in Kinnaird Park for a fourth ball field,” she said. Waldo Yule agreed, pointing out that while there are some 1,200 ballplayers. in the area, half of them are minors. On the other hand, he noted that a petition opposed to the fourth ball field drew some 2,500 responses. “The council must listen to the majority of people,” he said. However, Lisa Nevakshonoff questioned the validity of the sig- natures. She said a copy of the petition she saw included many Nelson and Trail addresses. City clerk Dianne Hunter said a “rough estimate” indicated that 30 per cent of the signatures were from outside Castlegar. John Hanley also spoke in favor of the ball field, saying that a ball field can only be created in a municipal park while trees can be found all around the community. He also said the fourth field could attract tournaments to Castlegar. “This is valuable money in our community.” Deb Chmara spoke against the proposed fourth field, noting that the park needs a long-range plan before anything can proceed Chmara also pointed out that the infrastructure surrounding the park cannot handle the increased usage which a fourth field and tournaments would bring. She cited parking concerns in particular. Binnie admitted the city had no plans to improve parking in the area other than to grade a gravel road adjacent to Kinnaird Middle School. In her memorandum to coun- cil, Binnie commented on the public reaction at the meeting. “What was also very evident was the strong emotional ties both parties have to the park and their use of it.” She added that while it appears that there was no grounds for compromise “there were areas of general consensus.” Those aréas included concerns about parking and washrooms, and the maintenance of the ball fields. “In particular, all parties agreed that the playground equip- mentis in very poor shape and needs to be replaced.” Earlier in the day, city clerk Dianne Hunter led a public tour of the site for the proposed fourth field. About 20 people turned out to see just how many and which trees must be cut down to make way for the field. RON NORMAN Sun Editor Canadian Tire on its way here homes are presently located on the property. It's official—Canadian Tire is coming to Castlegar. The national chain has been rumored to be on its way to Castlegar for months now, but the arrival was confirmed Tuesday night at Castlegar council when the retail giant applied for a development per- mit for a store in the south end In the application, the company says it intends to build a Canadian Tire store complete with service and garden centre at 1998 Columbia Ave. on the south side of the A&W restaurant The store will be located on 5.4 acres. Four See GOUK 2A The proposed main access to the store will be off Columbia Avenue at the inter- section of 20th Street. Parking will be provided for more than 224 cars. The store will measure more than 4,500 square metres (nearly 50,000 square feet) in gross floor area. Canadian Tire intends to retain the existing trees and shrubs on the southern bound- ary to act as-a buffer’ between the store and residents. The company will also have to pay more than $200,000 in development cost charges to the city. The Ministry of Highways must still approve the access.