THURSDAY, JUNE 9 2016 VOL. 73, NO. 70
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This summer, crews will grade a 1.2-kilometre stretch of highway on the South Taylor Hill between Johnson Road and the project’s south end, stabilize a section of slope, install new lighting, and install lane markings.
Shifting slope slows construction JONNY WAKEFIELD reporter@dcdn.ca
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It’s the white-knuckle portion of the drive between Dawson Creek and Fort St. John—the infamous South Taylor Hill. After three years of construction, including a $3.9 million delay brought on by a shift in the hillside, the Ministry of Transportation says work on the section of Highway 97 through the Peace River Valley is entering the homestretch. Work on the winding, bumpy two-lane stretch resumed on May 9. This summer, road crews will grade a 1.2-kilometre section of highway between Johnson Road and the project’s south end, stabilize a section of slope, install new lighting, pave a chain-off area, and install lane markings for the entire stretch of road. New asphalt will be laid throughout the project. In an email, a transportation ministry spokesperson said work is expected to be finished by September. It was
South Taylor Hill roadwork nearing completion, but many upgrades still needed through major regional bottleneck
“There are people upset with the delays, but I think most people realize it’s a cost of doing business in the north.� - Taylor Mayor Rob Fraser initially set for completion in fall 2015 but encountered delays during the first year of construction when crews “experienced movement in the slope,� Ministry of Transporta-
tion spokesperson Trish Rorison said in an email. The shifting slope added $3.9 million to the project’s $26 million budget. “The budget increase is due to additional work needed to stabilize a slope with a large berm that is part of the project,� Rorison said. “This additional work will ensure the area is properly stabilized for safety during and after the project.� Taylor Mayor Rob Fraser said that while this phase of construction is nearly done, there’s more work to come. “It’s really just the first phase of that South Hill construction,� he said, adding work still needs to be done on the top section of the hill. See TAYLOR HILL on A5
Municipal tax bills have been mailed out in Fort St. John this week. Property owners can expect an increase to the amount of taxes owing due to higher property value assessments. This increase is mitigated by a simultaneous decrease in the tax rate. On average, residents will pay $1,921 in taxes in 2016, a $37 increase over last year. This amount is equal to $4.75 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Levies for schools, garbage collection, BC transit and Peace River Regional District services and hospitals are also charged in addition to municipal taxes. The total tax rate, including levies, is $7.90 per $1,000 of assessed property value. A homeowner grant can reduce payable taxes by up to $770 for those who own the home they live in. The grant amount is determined based on assessed value and property taxes owing. The application form is included in the tax package. The city will collect more than $32 million in property taxes this year, nearly half of its total operating budget of $75 million for the year. The other large income source is transfers from the provincial and federal governments. Protection services, such as firefighting and police, take up a quarter of the tax revenue, followed by recreation services and general government operations. Water, health services, sewage treatment and transit make up the rest of the municipal expenses. Property taxes are charged based on property value. The average single family home in Fort St. John is assessed at just over $400,000, up from $380,000 last year, meaning taxes will increase. To mitigate this, council voted in April to reduce the tax rate by 4.23 per cent. Taxes are due July 4. Contact the finance department at 250787-8150 or tax@fortstjohn.ca if you have not received your bill, or have questions.
BCGEU digs up new downtown digs BRONWYN SCOTT peacereporter@ahnfsj.ca
Work on the new $5 million BC Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) building in Fort St. John is set to begin in the coming days. The lot, at 100 Avenue and 102 Street downtown next to the Condill Hotel, is a desirable location for the union. “We’re pleased to have secured this corner lot in down-
town Fort St. John,� union president Stephanie Smith said in an address during the groundbreaking on May 29. “The BCGEU’s new Fort St. John office will be well suited to the city’s Downtown Revitalization Plan, premised on the understanding a healthy and vibrant downtown is the cornerstone of a liveable and sustainable community.� See BCGEU on A5
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BCGEU Treasurer Paul Finch, President Stephanie Smith and Vice-President Richard Schaeffer get their shovels dirty during the BCGEU’s groundbreaking event on Sunday, May 29, in Fort St. John.
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