Legislative Library. Parliament Ren Victoria, Be vev Ux4 Son Vol. 40, No. 12 Counci By RON NORMAN Editor Castlegar council agreed Tuesday Ald. Nick Oglow's request for a special audit of the city’s industrial park. Ald. Albert Calderbank, chairman of the administration and finance committee, and Ald. Len Embree opposed the report. Mayor Audrey Moore was also opposed to the report, but because she never actually voted against it, she was recorded in favor. Moore said in an interview today that she simply forgot to raise her hand. =. by a split 5-2 vote to Embree said he opposed the. special auditor's report because he felt it isn't needed. “I don’t think that it would serve any useful. ee to spend taxpayers’ money for the report; he said. yA PREM ape che ag members “if certain specified and prescribéd conditions are not adhered to.” But Moore said in an interview ey the Bankrupt Act does not apply to 4 Sections (A, B,C &D) Jan. 27 council meeting. He said then he had concerns about i $1.5 million debt the city owes the provincial government can become i But Ogiow charged that council and Casth have been “persistently industrial park debt will be forgiven. misled”. by suggestions the “There has been no forgiveness and there is no written commitment of foregiveness,” he Ki He asked how close the city is to bankruptey — “or are we there now?” And he suggested there may be legal ramificationss and possible - personal liability for council any debts. But she quickly added: insolvency.” As well, Moore said no council member can be held liable for the industrial park debt unless fraud is involved. she said. “There is no fraud involved,” ough , at which point fe province takes over “we are for a ‘ for the industrial park. Oglow’s request sparked heated debate and was eventually referred to the sdministration and finance Oglow first requested the special auditor's report at the : SLUGGING IT OUT. . . Doug Bennett (left) and the Slugs during Monday night's show at the Hi Arrow Arms Motor Hotel. Doug and the Slugs performed to sold out house. Review page A4. CasNewsPhoto by Ron Norman ASSESSMENTS DROP Tax rate to increase By RON NORMAN Editor The City of Castlegar will have to increase tax rates this year to make up for a sharp decline in property values, Ald. N Oglow warned Tues day Oglow made the comment after council received a report from the B.C. Assessment Authority showing the Castlegar assessment roll dropped 22.5 per cent between July 1, 1984 and July 1, 1986. The July 1, 1986 assessment roll totalled $209.2 million compared to $269.9 million on July 1, 1984, a drop of $60.7 million. “The depressed economy and con tinuing loss of jobs in the Trail/Castle- gar/Nelson area (eg. Cominco layoffs) has resulted in market value levels * which are still lower than the levels established for the 1985-86 assessment roll and have continued to decline since July 1, 1986,” area assessor John Collins said in a report to council. Collins said residential property values dropped an average 15 per cent between 1984 and 1986. Industrial assessments fell five per cent, commer- cial assessments 12 per cent and util ities assessments five per cent. And the assessment roll could drop another $12.5 million if Celgar Pulp Company's appeal of its assessment is successful. The pulp mill was assessed at $107.5 million, but was sold last fall for only $95 million to a consortium of Canadian and Chinese companies. Celgar is appealing the assessment on the basis that its true property value is only $95 million — the price the mill ietehed. City administrator Dave Gairns told council that he hasn't worked out how the city will be affected if the appeal is a success. However, Mayor Audrey Moore ex pressed concern about the appeal, saying it could cause “a great deal of havoc” with city finances. “It was certainly an anxiety of mine when it (the mill) changed hands,” Moore told the Castlegar News in an interview She added that it is another way in which the city’s tax base has shrunk. Moore said the Celgar appeal is especially worrisome because it could take two or three years before a de- cision is handed down. If successful, the continued on page A2 Park changes spark concern By SURJ RATTAN Staff Writer Changes recently announced by Environment Minister Stephen Rogers for Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park have been met with both approval and“ criticism. Rogers, acting on the recommen. dations of the province's Wilderness Advisory Committee, announced on Jan. 29 several boundary and classi. fication changes for a number of B.C. parks. The changes announced for Kokanee Glacier park include classifying 24,000 hectares as Class A status from Class B status. The area in question will be subjected to a two-year mineral evalu ation study by the provincial energy, mines and resources ministry to de. controlled exploration would be to pay termine if there are sufficient minerals in the park to begin mining operations. In addition, 111,300 hectares of land will be added as recreation areas, while 50,200 hectares of land, considered to be of low park value,