Legislative Library, Parliawent Sligs.. Sol Wacterta, B..c. vev in DAN CAMPBELL . . commends board By BON NORMAN Editer The Regional District of Central Kootenay “enjoys excellent administration”, onetime municipal affairs min- ister Dan Campbell says in a special report on the regional district's operations. Campbell, who presented the 25-page report to the regional board Monday, also commends the board for showing “strong maturity” and overcoming difficulties presented by the region's unique geography. Campbell was appointed by Municipal Affairs Minister Bill Ritchie to study each regional district in the province and recommend ways they could be improved. And though Campbell’s report suggests areas for improvement — notably in planning and the amount of paperwork with which the board is faced — the report is for the most part favorable. For instance, in his conclusion, Campbell says there was no support to change the regional district system or to change the regional district's boundaries However, Ritchie, who also attended Monday's meeting, indicated that the provincial government intends to review regional district boundaries around the province Ritchie made the remark in response to a question from Area D director George Cady. Cady said the regional board sent a request for a boundary review to the province threé years ago and Victoria indicated the review would be part of the regional district study. However, Campbell said no one asked him to review the regional district's boundaries. But Ritchie said “there could be some proposed changes” to boundaries when all the regional district studies have been completed. Ritchie also said Campbell's reports have exonerated regional districts. ‘It has been most effective in putting down complaints we've been hearing for years,” he said, complaints, for example, that regional districts are simply another level of government “Generally speaking, they’re doing an excellent job, Ritchie said adding, “Regional distriets are here to stay He said he appointed Campbell, who was a municpal affairs minister in the old W.A.C. Bennett government, because Campbell was the “father” of regional districts And while Ritchie said “a lot of the criticism (of regional districts) has been unjustified”, he cautioned that there are still areas in which regional districts must improve. He painted out that between 1972 and 1982 money spent by regional districts on planning jumped from $4 million to $138 million, or an average increase of 20 per cent a year over 10 years. “That's not acceptable,” Ritchie said flatly, noting it was one reason the province brought in Bill 9 wiping out the regional district planning function, As well, he said the province felt “some plans in some areas had become too potent in the hands of some planners. ‘a The highest planning priority should be for municipal ities and their fringe areas, he said. He predicted that planning in rural areas “will not be as freely done as it has in the past.” Campbell agreed with Ritchie in his report, especially in continued on poge A2 4 BILL RITCHIE ‘excellent job City to take bumps out of crossing By CasNews Staff Seratch the CP Rail crossing at Columbia Ave. and 17th St. off the list of things that go bump in the night — or any other time. ‘The City of Castlegar plans to spend up fo $6,000 to remove the bumps at the crossing, making it smoother for area motorists. City engineer George Reshaur told council recently CP Rail plans to install new rails for 100 feet on either side of centre line of Columbia Ave. later ted that the city make « Rail to else install ially made rubber absorbers on either ide of each rail where the rails meet the asphalt pavement. “This rubber material has been ap- proved for use at road crossings by CPR.” Reshaur said in a memorandum. “The first crossing done using this material was installed in 1972 in the City of Hamilton and we are told it has been maintenance free since that date.” Reshaur added that since then, the rubber material has been installed in another 30 to 40 crossings in Ontario, and in four crossings in Calgary in the last year. He said the only crossing installed with the rubber material in B.C. is located within the Cominco plant in Trail. “This installation was made in May of this year and utilized the rubber strip on the outside of the rail,” Reshaur said. He told council in the memorandum that he and city works foreman Jim Hendrickson inspected the Cominco crossing and “were both impressed by its performance to date. Very heavy trucks use this particular crossing.” Reshaur said the rubber material will cost about $7,000: $4,000 for the inside rail and $3,000 for the outside rail. He suggested the city offer to purehase the rubber section for the outside rail if CPR will buy the rubber section for the inside rail. CPR already agreed to install the rubber sections when it installs its new rails, at no cost to the city. In addition, the city will construct a temporary detour around the intersec tion for 1 to 1'/ days at a cost of $3,000 The city will have to build an access road for the detour behind Maloney Pontiae Buick GMC which will then return to Columbia Ave. on the right of way just north of 17th St. City crews will be responsible for installing new asphalt pavement at the crossing. Ald. Cari Henne, chairman of the works and services committee, said the rubber materials will absorb train vibration making the pavement last longer. He said the city has spent “$30,000 to $40,000" repairing “that crazy crossing and it's still terrible.” ‘We feel this will be the complete. total solution,” be said Henne predicted the rubber sections will make the crossing “10 years main. tenance free.” Council agreed that if the CPR refuses to pay for thé rubber section for the inside rail, the city will still buy the rubber section for the outside rail ‘and have CRP install it. . Silhovetted against backdrop of leaping flames, Castlegar Volunteer firemen keep-on eye on fire. Demolished home adjacent to new Loomis 5 Ea building on Columbio Ave., was deliberately set by e department Monday for practice. Youth falls 22 metres By CHERYL CALDERBANK Stasi Writer A Castlegar youth is in stable con dition at Trail. Regional Hospital after falling 22 metres (75 feet) off a cliff near the Celgar Lumber Operations. Local Provincial Emergency Pro gram. search coordinator Ken Mis- eavitch said 1$-yedr-old Michael Ste- * vend anttile friend Beyes Batikert, 47, - ‘Were out hunting Sunday morning just beyond Celgar when Stevens pushed a rock over the edge of a cliff and fell. “He (Stevens) caught up in some small brush, other- wise he would have gone another 75 feet,” said Miscavitch. The accident happened about 11:45 a.m., and coincidentally at the same time a PEP crew was taking a course in cliff rescue on Lion's Head on the other side of the Columbia River Stevens’ friend called the RCMP, who contacted Miscavitch. He in turn, made contact with the crew on Lion's Head. Since the men were already wearing harnesses for climbing, the time be- tween receiving the call and climbing up the cliff to rescue Stevens was only about half an hour. caviteh said Miscavitch said the rescue was a “fair climb” and upon reaching Stevens the crew administered first aid before taking him up further toa spot where a helicopter could land. inside HELPING HAND: Castlegor United Way helps fund 24 community groups and organization which is the Development Program run by the Kootenay-Columbio Child Care Society CasNews reporter Chery/ Calderbank takes a look at the program in the first of a month-long series on United Way agencies A2 was lucky to get ~ KEN MISCAVITCH “He was lucky Stevens was transported to Castle gar and District Hospital and was later transferred to, Trail Regional Hospita! ‘ Miscavitch said the rescuers climbed a vertical height of 600 metres (2,000 feet) in the rescue. As a result ofjthe ‘fall, Stevens suf fered head and ls Considering his Miscavitch said Stevens was conscious and in good spirits when he was found. Mistaviteh said ‘a total of nine PEP people were involved im the rescue. including six who made the climb to reach Stevens. BIG WINNERS: The Castlegor News picked up three photography owords at the B.C. and Yukon Community Newspapers Association ennual convention a LATE MARKS: Some Stonley Humphries Secondary students’ tran- scripts had. some mistakes, but the error didn't couse ony problems . ROYAL BLUSH: LONDON — And now Diona has some more saucy apparel that would be of interest to the tabloids Prince Chories is used to accepting presents for his growing famity but blushed when well-wishers gove him a little — very little — something for the missus. “Which bit is the back?” inquired the prince, os he inspetted the frilly lace ond satin ponties presented during o visit to o London craft and sports centre. He was also given a christening cord for his second son, 2%- week-old Prince Horry, and a daffodil for two-yeor-old Prince William.