SPORTS LOCAL o4 Leal PAL VIC CAN s0794 *U LATLVE LIBRARY LAMENT BULLDING 1ORLA BL VBV FEATURE Cocoon swimmers emerge from Masters with 77 medals Swimmers from West Koo y put in strong show/9A Commi Senior's Housing Survey results now made public. ‘ations to council/3A As the camera lens proves, Canada is a diverse nation Citizenship ceremony is clearly Canad /1B WEDNESDAY May 5, 1993 The Castlegar Sun. MIXED Weather Vol. 3- No. 24 ‘The weekly newspaper with a daily commitment’ 75 Cents + G.S.T. Glance Funding Odyssey A total of $3,750 has been raised towards sending three School District No. 9 teams to the Odyssey of the Mind nationals which are to be held in Baltimore, Maryland June 2. The funds that have been donated thus far have come from many sources; Tarrys Fire Department, $500; Rebels Bingo, $1,500; Area I, $500; Area J, $500; private donations, $200; Focus Construc- tion, $100; car wash, $100; bake sale, $100. This week there will be $2, several activities and events sched- uled for the fundraising blitz. On May 9 there will be a Mother's Day spaghetti supper at Tarrys Hall. There will be a 5 p.m. and a 6 p.m. sitting There will also be a raffle with three prizes: First prize is a mountain bike which was donated by Castlegar Bicycle and Sports Shop; Second prize is a computer desk donated by Kootenay Computers; and third prize is a framed print donated Driftwoods. For raffle tickets call Elaine Gallo at 365-6682. t $20,000 $18,000 $16,000 $14,000 $12,000 $10,000: F $8,000 F $6,000~ +$4,000-4 Fines Amnesty Week The local library board has decided to give tardy patrons a break this month, in-celebra- tion of Fines Amnesty Week from May 15-22: If you have an overdue book lurking under your bed, you can bring it back to the library and no questions will be asked. After May 22, librarians will go back to charging those exorbitant fines of 25 cents per week for adult books and 10 cents per week for juvenile books! World Red Cross Day World Red Cross day is cele- brated"May 8, which is the birthdate of Henry Dunant, founder of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. On this day, the Red Cross is launching an appeal on behalf of millions of people suffering from the con- sequences of war-from ethnic and other violence. On a lighter note, the Red Cross will host a Celebrity Auction on the evening of May 8 in the Lord Nelson Hotel in Nelson. Items donated from more than 150 celebrities worldwide will hit the block to raise funds. Flag person Tara McDonald stands warily at her post located on the Robson side of the bridge construction. Too close for comfort Highway flaggers concerned about bad driving habits KAREN KERKHOFF Sun staff It’s an accident waiting to happen, but it can be avoided. This is the alarming message that a Castle- gar/Robson bridge traffic control spokesperson, Tara McDonald, is hoping motor vehicle operators will hear loud and clear. McDonald said although construction speed zones are clearly posted in advance there are still drivers who blatantly ignore the signs, especially on the Robson side of the construction. “People are still driving 80 through those zones.” Not only are people speeding through the con- struction zones, but McDonald said other traffic vio- lations are occurring. “People pass traffic which is stopped, they're following too close, they jump out in front of trucks and cause them to do brake stands, and there are certain people that go out of their way to use us flaggers as targets.” McDonald said she knows first-hand how frustrat- ing construction zones can be for a driver—she lives close to the construction site and has to drive through it often. But she also knows first-hand how frustrating and dangerous it is for traffic controllers. “I think there is a definite potential for a fatality between the construction traffic and the travelling public if the travelling public does not obey the signs.” In self-defense and in the name of safety, McDon- ald said traffic controllers are authorized to record license plate numbers of traffic violators and report them to the RCMP. Because of the amount of viola- tions which have been occurring McDonald said that they have already taken several plate numbers, and will continue to do so. « McDonald stresses that although there are certain people who habitually exhibit aggressiveness towards the flaggers, there are also drivers who go out of their way to be kind and considerate of the flaggers. “There are a few we have warned in and again, and then there are the ones who have been really good..They always stop well away from us and sometimes they even hand out cookies.” Castlegar RCMP member, Corporal Al Hudema, said he is aware of the infractions which are occur- ring, and cautioned that those who ignore construc- tion traffic signs will have to legally answer for their infractions. “We are alerting members that calls are coming in and they are a concern. The traffic signs in construc- tion zones are legal speed limits. They are erected so people can work in safety and offenders will answer to the appropriate law under the Criminal Code or the Motor Vehicle Act.” Hudema also warmed that whenever manpower is available a vigilance by police will be kept in order to ensure safety.to workers and the general public in the construction zone City cuts residential taxes in 1993 budget SHARLENE IMHOFF Sun Editor In 1992 the city collected $1.9 million from major industry, and this year that will increase to $2.6 million. The increase in Editorial Sports. Comics... 2sections 30 pages sree SB inspirations ............6B The City of Castlegar released its final budget during a special meeting last Wednesday, and true to city councillors promises. residential tax rates have been reduced by two per cent. The residential rates, according to City Director of Finance Jackie Hamilton in a memorandum to councillors, were reduced not only to adjust for generally inereased assess- ments, but also to reduce the average amount paid for munici- pal taxes by two per cent The major contributor that has allowed city residential tax Tates to be reduced is an increase in the city's major industry tax rate. Redevelopment at the Celgar Pulp mill has expanded the industrial property tax rate base by $63 million in new assessments (from $45 million to $107 million) and will gen- erate new revenue for local government purposes: “What we're hearing out there is that taxes are too high. And if we can operate at a level where they are reduced we should do that, and this is an advantage to the taxpayer,” said Councillor Lawrence Chemoff, who is co-chair of the Administration and Finance committee. Lowest bid wins for second phase The contract to complete the second phase of the Downtown Revitalization project has been awarded to West-Wind Nurseries Ltd, which submitted the lowest tender out of six submissions City council voted in favor of hiring the Kelowna company Tuesday night, based on a solid recommendations made by the Downtown Revitalization Com- mittee. Doug Green was the only councillor to record a vote against the recommendation, instead vying for an alternative to re-start the tendering-out process. City Administrator making career change SHARLENE IMHOFF If the City of Castlegar could be compared to a ship, then Gary Williams would sit at the helm. Williams, who has been City Administrator since August 1990, will be making a career change this year when his contract with the city expires at the end of July. William's plans are definite, despite the fact he was asked by council to reconsider and remain on board for an extended period. It was no accident that Gary Williams, who was living in Van- couver at the time, was hired by the city in 1990. It was at this time that the city was privately revenue to the city would have been greater, but to be fairer to industry, assessed value to $24.60 per thousand assessed value. trying to make it easier for the local taxpayer, but at the same time, the rates have to be fair to industry as well,” said Chemoff Following the directions laid out in the Strategic Financia Plan, the order,since it has been accused of doing too much too sdon, and relying too heavily on Celgar tax money. The costs of the second phase of Downtown Revitalization and building a new police building will be covered in 1993. Other Projects such as a new fire hall and a refurbished city hall have been set aside for now. ““We know there are extra dollars coming Funds have also been set aside in the budget to accommo- date increased funding for the Castlegar and District Heritage Society, the next phase of planning-at Twin Rivers Park and increased funding for winter works, reflecting the past win- its tax rate was reduced from $42 per thousand “We're city has also arranged capital projects in a specific ter’s heavy snowfall Earlier, city council and the revite committee were put under pressure by union employees to favor a local contractor since the difference in bids was under $48,000. "We really had no choice but to go with the most qualified, lowest bid. Not unless we want a leg problem with other bidders,” said Councillor Kirk Duff. Before making a decision, the city sought legal advise and was distributed the documents of a court case between the City of Abbotsford and Chinook Aggre gates Ltd., where action was reviewing the results of a report by Price Waterhouse, which detailed a number of serious prob- lems that were taking place inside city hall, and its own tough recipe for corrections, As reported more than two years later in local news- Papers, cooperation, communica- tion, long-term planning and leadership were lacking from within the confines of city hall, resulting in a tainted perception from the public outside. It wasn't long after the report was complet ed in 1990 that a first step was made to improve conditions—to hire a new administrator who would have the vigor. vitality and vision to carry out a number of i See WILLIAMS 2A taken against a city by a contrac- tor for failing to honor tender conditions. "We couldn't go in and change the goal posts now,” said Duff, who maintains that just because he and other councillors voted in favor of West-Wind, doesn't mean they are anti-union or anti-local. "We have to always keep in mind the interests of tax- payers." Duff suggested that local workers céntact the successful bidder and negotiate employment for themselves, since West-Wind has stated it will be subcontract- ing to four local contractors. CITY OF CASTLEGAR 1993 Taxation Revenue Business 5% Residential 25% Major Industry 57% Utilities 3% Figures rounded to total of $4.6 MILLION de _ SUN STAFF PHOTO / John Van Putten Stanley Humphries Secondary School student Martin Whitehead welds one of the front seat supports in the reconstruction of this 1919 Reo Tow Truck. Whitehead is one of 30 Power and Auto Mechanics students in grades 10-12 who have been working on the replica which is being built on the chassis of a donated 1974 Toyota pick- up. Plans are to have the truck completed for the Sunfest Parade June 12. In order to complete the replica in time for the parade, August Cupello, the P.A.M. Instructor says the students still need some important parts such as headlights, fenders, a hood and a radiator. If anyone has GARY WILLIAMS any of these parts please contact the school. For all the local news and spo 4 {