OPINION

Wednesday, April 5, 1995

The Castlegar Sun

Letters to the Editor

ger oe raion of the Castlegar Area, Ths Cestegar Bun
ing people

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Cokmibia Ave. yb era B.C. VIN 148, Sine Gnekegar unc pots
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Canadian C:

‘Assocation, and the B.C Roce osmah ‘Coautenes
28, 1990. Mail 10420,

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editorial comment

City bottom —
line in black

The City of Castlegar isn’t quite a blue chip
investment, but it’s getting there.

The city’s accountant, Berg and Naqvi, gave as
ringing an endorsement to council’s financial poli-
cies as accountants are willing to give when it said
the city’s finances have “vastly improved from the
previous year.”

What Berg and Naqvi liked was all that black ink
on the bottom line in the form of a $198,000 oper-
ating surplus for 1994 and $3.7 million in reserves
and acc lated operating 1

That compares to a $1,800 operating deficit and
reserves and operating surpluses of just $2.7 mil-
lion in 1993

The city was able to improve its financial picture
while at the same time cutting what it actually
spent on city operations by some $350,000 in 1994.

And in a figure that only accountants could love,
Berg and Naqvi pointed out that the city’s accumu-
lated surplus went from 3.1 per cent of the annual
revenue in 1993 to 4.2 per cent in 1994

Perhaps the only grey cloud on the financial hori-
zon was the rise in long-term debt as a percentage
of total city assets. It went from 17.7 per cent of
total assets to 20.6 per cent

However, much of that was the result of the $1.2
million the city spent of the downtown revitaliza-
tion program in 1994 and $1.5 million it spent on
the new RCMP station.

And it will likely increase again with the final
phase of downtown revitalization set for comple-
tion this fall.

There is no doubt that council has done a good
job with the city’s books, especially when other
levels of government have been running up debt
quicker than they can write cheques (Granted,
under the Municipal Act municipalities cannot run
deficits.. Castlegar had a deficit in 1993, but it was
offset by $417,000 in accumulated surplus.)

However, a word of advice to council: there is a
balance needed between being fiscally responsible
and providing services that residents demand.

And it was clear from last week’s meeting on
Kinnaird Park that if the fourth field proceeds,
one of the services residents demand is
improved parking.

City officials indicated that the only scheduled
improvement to parking at Kinnaird Park is some
grading of the gravel surfaces. Yet, somehow coun-
cil was able to find $140,000 to help the Emerald
Green development proceed and is in discussions
with another south-end developer that could
involve more city funds

Surely with bulging reserves and surpluses,
and money for developers, council can find the
funds necessary for parking improvements at
Kinnaird Park

Ron Norman

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ARE You POSTAL
WORKERS PLANNING
ANY STRIKES IN THE

WILOCAT WALK-

Ball field a no-win situation

Quick, name the biggest contro-
versy to hit Castlegar in the last
few years?

The CORE land-use plan?

The regionalization of hospital
services?

Development in the south end?

Wrong, wrong and wrong

It is the proposed fourth ball
field at Kinnaird Park

Who'd have thunk it?

Certainly not Castlegar council
and the Castlegar Ball Users
Association. The tidal wave of
opposition caught them by sur-
prise right from the start when
2,500 residents signed a petition
opposing the field.

Council and the ball users asso-
ciation knew they were going to
have to deal with some concérns
about the trees, parking and noise
from area residents.

What they didn’t expect is that
the wave of concern would wash
from one end of the city to the
other. And they were clearly over-
whelmed again last Wednesday
night at the Community Complex
when more than 200 people —
both those who support the ball
field at Kinnaird Park and those
who don't—showed up to hear the
plans for a fourth ball field.

Councillor Brenda Binnie,
recreation director Pat Metge and
city clerk Dianne Hunter all com-
mented on the huge turnout. And
that is one of the positive aspects
of the controversy.

Playing fields—and parks in
general—have been put on the city
political agenda for the first time
in years. Any politician who
doesn’t recognize that parks are
vitally important to the residents
of this commaunity takes his politi-
cal life in his hands.

And that’s why I don’t envy
council on this issue. No matter
what it decides, it is going to lose

There are two problems.

One is Kinnaird Park itself. It is

just not suited to handle a fourth
ball field AND remain a true
multi-use park. One or the other,
yes. Both, no.

Anyone who doubts that should
take a tour of the proposed fourth
field. I had seen
the diagram show-
ing where the
fourth field would
go, but when I
actually walked
the area last week
as part of the pub-
lic tour I was sur-
prised by the large
numbers of trees
that will have to
go to make Way forthe field.

It is 250 feet down one foul
line, 275 feet to centre field and
250 feet down the other foul line.
That is a big area.

And we're not even talking
about expanded washroom and
concession facilities, increased
parking, proper storage buildings,
and a new playground area. Togeth-
er, they will all drastically trans-
form the park from what it is now.

(Not to mention that once the
park is used for ball tournaments
on an ever-larger scale, there will
be more pressure to build even
more facilities.)

There can be no doubt that the
present greenspace will be a much
smaller component of the park,
and possibly shrink even more in
the future.

If that’s what the community
wants, so be it. But judging from
the outcry over the fourth field, the
community is anything but united
on this concept for the park. |

The other problem is where else
can a tournament facility go?

No other city park has three
existing fields. The city and ball
users group would have to literally
start from scratch and build four
new fields, and that's just too
much to expect.

So either Kinnaird Park is a
tournament facility or Castlegar
doesn’t have a tournament park—
at least not in the near future.

My problem with the proposed
fourth field at Kinnaird Park is that
somehow we
went from the
priority being
another ball
field to allevi-
ate the pres-
sures on the
existing fields,
to having a
tournament
facility.

Now you
can’t tell me that if the goal is to
add another field or two to the
existing inventory we can't find
several locations for them. Surely,
Kinnaird Park is not the only site in
the whole of Castlegar and the out-
lying areas.

I would suggest that if the pri-
ority really is more fields—and
not a tournament facility—then
the city should look to the region-
al recreation commission for lead-
ership.

Why, when a great number of
ballplayers live outside the city,
are we looking only to sites within
Castlegar? Why not take a region-
al view of the problem?

That is already. happening in
part, with the redevel of

THE VIEW

RON
NORMAN

+ council

as close to a win-win situation as
possible if it is decided that the
priority is additional ball fields.

If all eyes remain fixed on Kin-
naird Park as the only location,
and the community—
will end up losing. Whether the
field is approved or rejected.

A FOOTNOTE: I don’t usually
respond to letters to the Editor, but
last week's letter from Corrine
Postnikoff of the Castlegar Figure
Skating Club deserves a brief reply.

Firstly, the editorial to which
Mrs. Postnikoff referred was
directed at Castlegar council for
not being more consistent in its
grants, not at the skating chub.

Secondly, contrary to what Mrs.
Postnikoff’s letter might lead some
readers to believe, the skating club
DOES in fact have a surplus of
thousands of dollars, even after all
its bills are paid this winter. Mrs.
Postnikoff never actually says how
much the surplus is, but a member
of the club executive pegs it at
around $6,600.

Mrs. Postnikoff also defends the
club’s $300 grant from city cof-
fers. I never questioned why the
club got the grant. If I had, I might
have wondered why the city is
giving any money to the club in
the first place.

I might have pointed out that

the Pass Creek Park ball field
The Ootischenia recreation com-
mission (not to be confused with
the regional recreation commis-
sion) has also proposed a new
ball field on the Ootischenia
school property. That will add to
the field inventory when it comes
on stream

Are there not other locations
outside of Castlegar for more ball
fields, if the priority really is addi-
tional fields?

Council—and the community—
can emerge from this controversy

my daughter takes dancing lessons
and I don’t ask the residents of
Castlegar to help pay for them. I
might have noted that another
daughter takes riding lessons and I
don’t ask the residents of Castle-
gar to support that.

I might have even mentioned
that they both take piano lessons,
and guess what? I don’t request
the city for an annual grant.

And I might have concluded
that if they skated I would expect
to pay for that out of my own
pocket, too.

But I never said any of that.

Clearing up the benefits issue

It has come to my that

p that K

locally adi and d

Kootenay MLAs have recently
sent a letter to constituents which
referred to my reported position on
the use of Downstream Benefits
negotiated under the Columbia
River Treaty. I am writing to let
you know exactly where I stand on
this important issue

As the MLA for Peace River
South, I am intimately familiar
with the environmental and
social costs that your region and
mine suffered in connection with
the “Two Rivers” hydro develop
ment strategy

No region has paid as great a
price as the Kootenays—a fact that
I have. grown to appreciate with
greater clarity in recent months.
My constituents have also lived
with the costs of building the
W.A.C. Bennett dam, including
the largest flooded area in British
Columbia, Williston Lake.

In short, I can relate to the

have experienced as a result of the
Columbia River Treaty and I
agree that the government has an
obligation to
make amends.
Unfortunately,
that fact was not
adequately con-
veyed in my ini-
tial reaction to the
government’'saJj
announcement on
the Dowpstream
Benefits last
Septemb: Fur-
ther, my position has been sub-
stantially influenced by Kootenay
residents over the past six months.
Let me. be clear: Kootenay resi-
dents have made a compelling
case for a fair share of the Down-
stream Benefits, which Reform
BC supports. I also agree that the
Kootenay’s share of Columbia
River Entitlements should. be

by the Columbia River Treaty
Committee (CRTC).

In fact, I would like to extend
this concept,
to return a
greater portion
of energy ben-
efits to ener-
gy-producing
regions.
JACK It has

am always been a
WEISGERBER great frustra
tion to rural
British
Columbians that so little of the
wealth generated from resource
industries is returned to their com-
munities

For example, many. people liv-
ing in regions that produce elec-
tricity or natural gas can’t even get
access to those energy sources.

The gas pipelines and hydro
lines run straight past their yards

MY
TURN

to provide heat and light to homes
in the Lower Mainland and rev-
enue to government coffers.

I'd like to see a greater portion
of those energy benefits “repatri-
ated” to regional authorities,

much as a portion of stumpage-

fevenues is now slated for region-
al investment under the Forest
Renewal program

Indeed, the government can no
longer neglect its responsibility to
ensure that Kootenay residents
receive their fair share of energy
entitlements.

A B.C. Reform government will
expand the concept of resource
revenue sharing though regional
authorities, like the CRTC, com-
prised of representatives from
local governments. If you have
any specific suggestions to make
in this regard, I would, of course,
be happy to hear from you.

Jack Weisgerber is leader of the
B.C. Reform Party,

Just the winter doldrums?

Dear Editor:

Re: John Gibson’s letter to the
Editor titled “Here is what is
wrong with our city”.

Thank heavens the majority
of the citizens of Castlegar share
a more optimistic view of :their
city, and the exciting changes
taking place. Changes such as
affordable housing for retirees
and seniors so that they don't
have to leave Castlegar upon
retiring.

Changes such as economic
growth so that our young people
can find suitable employment and
not have to go to larger cities to
secure same.

Changes that make our city
both a more pleasant and exciting
place to reside in and to visit.

The south end of the city is
developing commercially in the

area of the old and proposed
interchange. This is inevitable
Unfortunately, there is always a
transition period when some
things don't seem to mesh (ie
residential/commercial mix) but I
don’t feel this is a long-term situ-
ation, in light of approved devel-
opment plans for the area.

I. commend the city merchants
who have struggled through
geographic changes and poor
economic times to maintain a
viable downtown core.

I believe the proposed devel-
opment by Vancorp. Develop-
ment and Imperial Capital Corp.
Developments to occupy
acreage beside the courthouse
will be a refreshing addition for
the downtown core.

This will provide an attractive
residential setting, particularly

for seniors, and within walking
distance to shops, post office,
library, doctors, hardware, etc

The past projects these devel-
opment companies have been
involved in are well-sited for the
applicable location. We have no
doubt this complex will be attrac-
tive and well thought out with the
occupants and the City of Castle-
gar’s needs in mind.

With the number of inquiries
Countrywide Southcentre Realty
Ltd. has received from interested
parties, I can only say the project
is being well received.

Perhaps Mr. Gibson is just suf-
fering from the winter doldrums.

Jordan Watson
broker/owner
Countrywide South

The Spe pechaly for Kids Con-
cert Te Say or affiliated:

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program exposes our
children to a variety of per-

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Due to rising costs of facili.

* the 1995 - 1996 concert series,

faced. with the unfortunate pos-
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i acl this is a valaable
and worthwhile children's
series that should be continued.

If interested in participating in
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368-6. 2 t

Realty Ltd.

Valley Vista to get playground

Dear Editor:

Valley Vista School in south
Castlegar will-have a wonderful
new playground this spring
thanks to funding from BC 21
and the efforts of students, par-
ents and teachers. ~

This playground project was
initiated by Valley Vista's
Healthy School Committee,
which gave the students a chance
to voice their wishes for more
play equipment. Students from
Kindergarten to Grade 3 are
learning that fundraising can be
fun and rewarding.

Last week a grant of $4,000
was confirmed from BC 21. The
other two-thirds of the budget
came from fundraising and com-
munity donations.

Valley Vista students have par-
ticipated in hot lunches, healthy
snacks at school, a toboggan
party, a book fair, and cookbook
sales—all in the name of

fundraising. Several lemonade
stands have been sighted on vari-
ous neighborhood corners as stu-
dents .organize “their own
fundraising activities:

This project comes off the page
and onto the ground on April 7
and 8. Work parties are scheduled
for 3 p.m. Friday and bright and
early at 8 a.m. Saturday. By Mon-
day at lunch time we expect to
see many happy faces playing
on the equipment as the students

realize the fruits of their labor.
Valley Vista's final fundraising
activity of the year will take place
on May 12, a day designated by
Castlegar school district as.Com-
munity Interaction Day. If you
wish to try out the equipment or
get to.know more about a school
with its focus on the health of its
students and the community,

come and see us at Valley Vista.
Julia Stockhausen
Castlegar

The correct
phone number for
Internet access
is 365-7172

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