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SPORTS WEDNESDAY September 13, 1995 e Castiegar Sun SUNNY Weather Vol. 5, No. 43 “The weekly newspaper with a dally commitment’ Property tax dispute flares up at Doukhobor Village KAREN KERKHOFF Sun Staff transfer legal ownership by pro- viding one portion to the National Despite its apparent prosperi- ty, all is not well with the area known as the Doukhobor Vil- Exhibition Centre and one por- tion to the Doukhobor Historical Society. The Doukhobor property trans- fer ag is to include a lage across from the C rt. Area I director John Voykin said the owner of the land, the . Regional District of Central Kootenay, has received notice that it is liable for some $5,000 in back taxes and penalties against the land, which currently houses the National Exhibition Centre, the Spinning Wheel Doukhobor restaurant and most recently, a produce stand. Voykin said he wonders why the RDCK should be responsible for taxes when there are private businesses on the land which are earning income. “I’m not prepared to spend tax- payers’ money paying private businesses’ taxes. But I don’t want to see the RDCK delinquent in taxes — it's an awkward position.” A meeting to discuss the back taxes on the land was held July 19 at the RDCK office in Nelson In attendance were Area J director Ken Wyllie (Lower Columbia-Arrow Lakes), Area I director John Voykiny City of Castlegar councillor and regional representative Kirk Duff, and RDCK administration officials. After derable di i restrictive covenant requiring that the property must continue to be used for cultural and/or commu- nity recreation purposes, or it will revert back to the RDCK. As well, the offer to the Doukho- land, as well as applying for the required zoning change to authorize the sale of produce. Voykin said that although he believes the NEC has verbally agreed to the arrangement, the Doukhobor Society has not respond- ed with the same enthusiasm. “To my knowledge they [the Doukhobors] say the land belongs to the RDCK and so the RDCK is responsible for taxes.” Voykin said that despite a stop- work notice posted Aug. 15 at the one property. Either they will take it over or the RDCK will take it over.” But John Fostey, president of the Kootenay Doukhobor Histori- cal Society, said the latest action by the RDCK is one in a string of many frictions over the years. Fostey pointed out that the Doukhobor Village is a non-prof- it society and that the RDCK “failed to apply for a tax exemp- tion” from the Ministry of Forests for the Village lands. “That's not our responsibility,” he said. “Look at Fort Steele — they don’t pay taxes.” At one time, Fostey said the RDCK threatened legal action against the Doukhobor Historical Society. “In 1979, they threatened to take the property back for unpaid taxes. They said they were going to foreclose and we said ‘go ahead.’ They backed off.” As far as the stop-work order goes, Fostey said the order has been posted and taken down again only when it suits the R Pp stand, he beli fruits and vegetables are still being sold at the site. “They're running a business which appears tobe in contraven- tion of the bylaws,” said Voykin. The two groups are planning a meeting later on this month to try to determine who will actually be ible for ing taxes Duff made a motion, seconded by Voykin, that the RDCK complete and pay for the subdivision of the Doukhobor Village property and on the Doukhobor lands. But Voykin said he is sure of at least one thing. “There can't be two masters on DEREK ZEISMAN Sun Editor Victory for Area | library referendum Tarrys, Pass Creek, Brilliant, The results are in, and they look good to supporters of the Area I library The referendum, held Satur- day, asked taxpayers in Area I of the Regional District of Cen- tral Kootenay whether or not they would support providing tax support for the Castlegar Library, in exchange for free year-round usage of the facility. An unofficial tally of the Sat- numbered gin of 175 to 121. “We're very, very happy about the results,” said Vera Fodor, one of the i “Fifty votes was a good It shows a good cross section of people came out to vote. We all got a chance to show our ions.” Some complaints were put forward after the vote about time and place of the referen- vote beforehand — including paper and radio Iti: ments, a8 well as a door-to-door brochure drop. of the referendum Yes Commit- tee. “Winning this was a real concerted effort — a big thanks goes out to everyone involved” Fodor said she and her fellow pro-library organizers were never too worried about losing the vote, although she said she had expected the results to be close. “We did realize there were some people who were very against it, just like some people are against all taxes. I guess that’s understandable.” The referendum was open to all residents of Area I, including the communities of Thrums, “A ber of people said they never saw the brochures, but they all went out and got i ” she said. “But how 74 | District. “When they [RDCK] were made aware that [Premier Mike] Harcourt was coming to town on Aug. 25, they wanted to take it down.” The produce-stand is still oper ~ ational despite the order, said Fostey,’ He said he’s uncertain if the upcoming September meeting will result in any agreement between the two sides in the dis- pute — especially since previous negotiations have been less than fruitful. “We've been trying to negoti- ate with them since May of °93,” said Fostey.,“‘After all, the prop- erty belongs to them — at least theoretically.” RDCK secretary and assistant administrator Barry Baldigara When Jim Dahl heard meows from his 1st St. home three weeks ago, he had no idea he would soon be the keeper o from a small island on the Colum! f two kittens. The kittens were rescued by Dahl bia River, just below the Robson-Castlegar Bridge. Here Clyde hungrily laps milk, while his sister Bonnie warily lurks nearby out of the camera’s sight. See story, Page A3. SUN STAFF PHOTO / Karen Kerkhof Council debates need for city campsite DEREK ZEISMAN Sun Editor report recommended that “the city continue to provide the camp- ed by written P from three local businesses, city council found itself debating whether overnight camping should be allowed at the Castlegar Recre- ation Complex, at its first meeting of the month Sept. 5 The letters to city hall, sent by John Ottenbrite of the Twin Rivers Motel, J. M. Traynor of the Cozy Pines Motel, and Robert Ballard of the Castlegar RV Park and Campground, all call for the city to prohibit overnight camp- ing at the complex — especially by RV owners utilizing the camp- ground’s 10 free RV stalls. A report on the subject to coun- cil, written by city clerk Dianne Hunter, stated that “these busi- nesses are upset that the city pro- vides a ‘free’ facility while their own facilities, on which they pay business taxes and meet all munic- passed, free library services will immediately be accessible to Area I residents, bypassing any red tape or administrative delays caused by the expansion im service. “The library was very good about that,” said Fodor. RDCK Area I director John Voykin was unavailable for com- ment on, the outcome of the vote. ipal reg Ss, gO unused.” Hunter pointed out in her report that while the letters focused mainly on the heavy usage of the city facilities during the July dog show held at the Recreation Complex, the business owners’ concerns apply to other events as well — including ball tournaments, swim meets and hockey camps. However, despite the concems of some local businesses, Hunter's it pi used only on a limited basis.” But city council wasn’t quite so sure. “This overnight camping is usu- ally done in conjunction with the dog show and swim meets,” said Coun. Ron Armbruster. “That's OK, but other events may have to move their campers elsewhere.” Coun. Kirk Duff said the issue was being a little overblown. “There's not a lot of events,” he said. “If these businesses are so concerned about the Rec Com- plex facilities, why can’t they make themselves better known?” Duff said council should take ion that be in the campground business,” said O"Connor. “It was more for day use and overnights as a con- venience. But now it’s turned into a full-blown campsite for free.” He said the free camping facil- ity sends out the wrong message to local businesses who work hard to attract tourists to the area, only to lose their business to pub- lic facilities. “It would be great if every- body could just camp where they want to, to encourage events to locate in this town. But we want their money. We want them to locate and spend their money at businesses in Castlegar.” O’Connor said the issue should be looked at by council in much more detail, with 4 view to up Hunter's d the Chamber of Commerce act as a liaison between special event organizers and local businesses, to help attract incoming tourists to privately-owned hotels and RV facilities around town. He also recommended that the accommodation concerns expressed in the letters be for- warded on to the Recreation Commission for comment Mayor Mike O'Connor was not in quite as conciliatory a mood, however. He said local motels and RV parks are right to be miffed at the existence of the city’s no-cost RV site “I don't think this city should ph out the no-cost camp- ground site altogether. “I don’t think the city should be in direct competition with these businesses. If we're going to do that, we should at least charge the same rates. Coun. Brenda Binnie said the mayor was being overly strict about a public facility that is rarely abused by visiting campers. “Are you saying we have to: put up signs that say no overnight camping? Either we have a camp- ground or we don’t,” said Binnie. “I’m not sure of the statistics, but I don’t think there's very many using the site.” In the end, the decision about what to do with the public camp- site and RV park was tabled to a future meeting, meaning no user fees and no restrictions on overnight parking at the site — at least for the time being. Darrell Leslie Anderson will spend five months in jail and serve two years ion with conditions after being found guilty of writing bad cheques, uttering a forged document, theft, fraud, and willfully mak- ing a false statement in a receipt. Police say the charges relate to numerous incidents in Castle- gar and Rossland earlier this ‘Cheque it out year in which Anderson papered the communities with NSF cheques. Anderson was charged with over 50 counts, but was found guilty on only 12 of those: counts. The other charges were stayed. The sentence was hand- ed down by Judge Donald Sper- ry in Castlegar Provincial Court Sept. 6.