Wednesday, December 18, 199) ‘ Rejected road referendum may harm new i Failure of the road referendum casts shadow on possibility of new RCMP headquarters Scott David Harrison EDITOR The defeated road referendum could have bitter consequences to local police. The city was hoping to hold a referen- dum on a new RCMP building in 1992, but the failure of Saturday's road refer- endum puts the entire plan in doubt. “I think (a referendum) is a pretty iffy situation now,” Ald. Lawrence Chernoff said. “There are a lot of ramifications from not having the paving referendum pa: and it could be (the RCMP building).” THE FAR SIDE Chernoff, the chief backer of the road re- habilitation program, said he was discour- aged with the outcome of the road referen- dum. He said he was shocked that the citizens of Castlegar didn’t recognize the urgent need for road repairs. Saturday, 461 of 856 voters rejected the referendum which would have allowed the city to borrow up to,$1.286 million to for the first two years of a five year road re-- construction program. Chernoff said the negative result may cause council to shy away from a referen- dum for a new RCMP building, despite an obvious need. “Their facility is not adequate, it’s that simple,” he said of the present RCMP build- By GARY. LARSON | SAVE $2 ¢ DEC. 19-23 9 PCES. OF GOLDEN DELIC! ox a NOW ONLY 4 Reg. $1 ise $9 af RCMP site ewe will have a referendum on (a new building), but it’s a matter of the right place at the right time, When that right time is, though, I don’t know.” The RCMP is seeking a new building be- cause it has outgrown its present structure, which was constructed some 30 years ago. Anticipating the Lelascpe Castiegat purchased roperty several years ago tor atapaa beaiquactars. That lot sits be- tween city hall and the Bank of Montreal. Butb of the defeated referend Chernoff said that lot may just have to sit empty for a few more years yet. “If the bread and butter doesn't get passed when it really should, what do you Oe 10US CHICKEN 6 ia Ave. 365-5304 ——s “I’m starting to worry about you, Earl... . Stalking sheep in that outfit is one thing, but wearing it around the house Is just a little kinky.” pel News novssonetna 365-2212 h-tt-4-4 co Td Bluetop ba ‘NOT JUST ANOTHER INSURANCE AGENCY pene | WE ARE YOUR INSURANCE AGENCY And we wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year CASTLEGAR SAVINGS INSURANCE AGENCIES LTD. Lo 3) ss Castlegar, B.C. Slocan Park 365-3368 226-7216 FREE purse MinRoR with your purchase of COTY 24 LIPSTICK! FREE powner Purr with your purchase of COTY FACE POWDER! FREE wait ENAMEL with your purchase of MAX FACTOR LIPSTICK! FREE warn conorrionen with your purchase of NICE 'N EASY HAIR COLOR! FREE potpourri ol chase EAU DE TOILETTE! 22 9. 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Serving Sets, 3-Piece Hostess Sets FULL LIFETIME WARRANTY * DISHWASHER SAFE FREE attershave Sample with your purchase of RAPPORT AFTER SHAVE FREE covocne sAMPLE with your purchase of either ROYAL COPENHAGEN SETS OR SINGLES FREE winorirt couocne 14 mL with your put of either WIND! col INE OR AFTER SHAVE GIFT SETS FREE skin Protection Cream 4mL. with your purchase of ADIDAS AFTER SHAVE! FREE traver xit with your purchase of either MONSIEUR MUSK OR COLOGNE 5 16, hoo Bi: H SecondFRONT CALL THE to Friday, 8:30 a.m. 5 p.m. Closed: FENCE MENDING a —- ~ Pa al Horseplay was the name of the game at Twin Rivers Elementary Monday as this unsuspecting student had her pack sack lofted into the school's chain-link fence. No damage done, though, as the victim and her fellow students shared a laugh when the fence refused to let the pack sack.go . News photo by Ed Mills Kinnaird Hall ‘a write-off’ NEWS REPORTER The future of the Kinnaird Hall rests in the hands of Victoria. On Tuesday, a recommendation was introduced before council to close the aging structure because of safety and health deficiencies. Three options regarding the hall’s future were considered dur- ing 30 minutes of debate. The first dealt with performing the minimal safety and health up- grades at a cost of close to $80,000. Ald. Robert Pakula pleaded his fel- low councillors take that path with the historical hall. “I urge you to turn down this recommendation and fix the hall up,” he said. Ald. Jim Chapman didn’t buy that, though. He suggested council close the hall and dispose of the property. “I don't see why we should save the hall,” he said. “From the foun- dation up, I say that building is a ite-off.” wri 4 Ald. Mary Mathieson found common ground. during the de- bate, saying council must explore the possibility of having Kinnaird Hall determined a heritage site. “I think we should consider that option before we torch it,” she said. Ald. Kirk Duff said the hall has been a White Elephant for the city. He said Castlegar is spending some $15,000 a year to maintain the 50-year-old structure. The re- turn on that investment, however, is just $1,700 Duff said City administrator Gary Williams endorsed Duff's figures, saying that even if the repairs were approved, the city would still be in the red. “Even if we upgrade, we still have a deficit of some $14,000 a year,” Williams said. If the hall was determined a heritage site by the provincial body, Victoria would pick up the Price tag. - Council will make a final deci- sion on the fate of Kinnaird Hall in January. Castlegar seeking central fire hall Jonathan Green NEWS REPORTER Already eyeing a new RCMP building, Castlegar wants to add a central fire station to the list. Tuesday, the city released results of a May 1990 survey by the Regional Fire C issi ’s Office, as well as the findings of a council estab- mined Castlegar could save some $100,000 in oper- ating expenditures by 1993. A central hall doesn’t come without criticism, though. The council committee expressed concerns about increased response times and heavy traffic flow up Columbia Avenue. Castlegar Fire Chief Gerry Rempel doused those lished to review the fire hall issue. In the end, both agreed that space to expand the Castl "s existi halls wasn't there and offered a centrally-located hall as a solution. the hall plan, the survey deter- in an interview, though, saying the city can survive with one hall. “There's a lot of communities with only one fire hall,” Rempel said “(One hall) will serve the city ad- equately.” Kristiansen attacks federal UIC initiatives Mulroney's “hecho Conservatives are playing with the money of taxpayers Jonathan Green NEWS REPORTER Lyle Kristiansen has confirmed something about the Mulroney government the people of Canada have suspected for some time. “This government just doesn’t teen to people very much,” he In the House of Commons Thursday, the New Democrat MP from West Kootenay-Revelstoke spoke out on the high increase in the number of UIC claims in his region. From Vancouver Tuesday, Kris- tiansen said the federal govern- ment is only inviting even further criticism of its policies. He said Conservatives are out of touch with the people they serve, point- ing to changes to the UIC bill as an example. Changes to the Bill C-21 include an increase in the number of weeks worked needed to qualify for assistance, a shorter time frame to receive payments and a change in funding which makes employees and employers pay for the entire UIC system. Kristiansen said those factors add up to trouble for the Mul- roney-led government. “There is such a tremendous backlog right now,” he said, “We just have to wait it out and assist people the best we can.” Speaking at a time when debate on the federal government's pro- posal to cap payments to the provinces were fast and furious, Kristiansen said he had no choice but to be heard. “When the opportunity came up, it was a chance to raisethe is- sue,” he said. “You very seldom get that opportunity.” Kristiansen said that the gov- ernment has added fuel to the fire by reneging on a promise it made last year. “The government made very clear promises that there would be no further increases in employer and employee contributions for three years,” he said. “Within a year, they've broken that promise.” With “no immediate movement” on the issue, Kristiansen said all that can be done right now is sit and be patient. He added that is something the people of his region having been doing a little too much under the Conservatives.