100 Mile House
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100 Mile plays host to CYSL competition
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B1 MAY 16, 2012
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SCHF shows off the renovated hospital lobby Heather Nelson Free Press
The ribbon was cut and the cake was enjoyed at the South Cariboo Health Foundation’s (SCHF) grand opening of the newly refurbished entrance and waiting area of the 100 Mile District General Hospital on May 12. Locals, dignitaries, SCHF board members, Hospital Auxiliary members and lab staff joined the celebration of the grand opening, the foundation’s 10th anniversary and extended hours of the laboratory. “In 2005, the foundation partnered with Interior Health and the Cariboo Chilcotin Health District to undertake a major upgrade of the emergency and laboratory facilities,” said SCHF public relations and fundraising co-ordinator M-J Cousins. In 2011, she added, the foundation planned and funded the renovations to the hospital entrance and waiting area. “Now, the work is complete.” Cousins introduced SCHF board chair Mary Schennum who spoke of the wonderful support of the community, businesses and the partnership with Cariboo Regional
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Heather Nelson photo
South Cariboo Health Foundation board members, dignitaries, hospital auxiliary and laboratory staff joined in the grand opening of the newly refurbished entrance and waiting room with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the 100 Mile District General Hospital on May 12. On the same day, SCHF celebrated its 10th anniversary and it was announced the lab was extending its hours to include Saturday service. District. She noted the foundation is celebrating a decade of supporting the health care in the 100
Mile House area, and since the incorporation of the foundation, it has dispersed approximately
$1.5 million throughout local care services. “We need $80,000 to $100,000 a year to con-
tinue these services, and this year, we have already reached the halfway point of about $50,000.”
Cousins said the SCHF reached one million points See SCHF… page A3
Governance change would be taxing Ken Alexander Free Press
During the May 14 South Cariboo Joint Committee meeting, two Cariboo Regional District (CRD) directors and the mayor and council of the District of 100 Mile determined that changing how the South Cariboo is governed would be cost prohibitive. They were responding to the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce’s presentation to the joint committee on April 23, seeking support for a governance change. While there were points about positive
Roy Scott aspects made during the presentation, the joint committee members said they believed the
key to the change would be to allow business owners living outside of the 100 Mile House municipal boundaries to have a vote for mayor and council. While saying little at the April 23 presentation, the joint committee conducted a “very high level review” of the proposal, which identified a number of concerns, including substantial increases in the costs to taxpayers. District of 100 Mile House CAO Roy Scott noted the new governance model would result in increased costs for policing, road maintenance and the capital replace-
ment costs of roads and bridges throughout the South Cariboo. While CRD Electoral Areas G, H, L and the District of 100 Mile House pay around $485,000 annually, it was projected that after amalgamation, the cost would jump to around $3 million. A low-ball estimate given at the May 14 meeting was “it would cost between $1,200 and $1,500 in municipal taxes alone,” which would be cost prohibitive for all property owners. Noting taxes would climb from the lowest in the South Cariboo to the highest, 100 Mile Mayor
Mitch Campsall said he was worried about the burden that would place on seniors, especially those on fixed incomes. Councillor Dave Mingo agreed and added it would be hard on all homeowners. CRD Area H Director Margo Wagner noted the influx of summer residents keeps a lot of local businesses operating year round through the slower winter months, but if increased taxes forced those cabin owners to get rid of their properties, it would be extremely bad for business. See GOVERNANCE… page A6