THURSDAY
S I N C E
1 8 9 5
AUGUST 2, 2012
Rossland Pool celebrates 80th anniversary
Vol. 117, Issue 149
110
$
Page 2
INCLUDING H.S.T.
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF
ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALM SALMO
AN EYE ON THE SKY
DOWNTOWN
Surplus puts Trail in fine fiscal form: Santori
Civic plaza plans on back burner
Summer market’s success may add another dimension to project
BY TIMOTHY SCHAFER Times Staff
BY BREANNE MASSEY Times Staff
Trail’s civic plaza concept has progressed with a recent downtown property purchase, but it’s likely that it won’t gain momentum until next year. The city purchased the Eagles Hall for $335,000 in May and expects to tear the building down, open it up and look at the development of the downtown civic plaza concept. “It was bought awhile ago because it was consistent with the downtown action plan, but nothing is going to be done this year other than internal, environmental work,” Trail’s chief administrative officer David Perehudoff said. “There’s some asbestos in the drywall so we’ll remove that this year, and most likely the building will be taken down next year.” Despite the sale, the downtown civic plaza project has been placed on the back burner in an attempt to fast-track the Gateway project along Victoria Avenue. “I want to see that done before the snow falls,” councillor Kevin Jolly said about the Gateway. “Our focus hasn’t changed. Our goal is to bring people downtown—that’s the highest visibility—and we’re firmly committed to creating an attractive gateway, or entrance point, to get there.” Jolly was pleased with its current progress, including the Trail Memorial Centre’s exterior being painted and the A&W storefront being developed. He was also eager to find a way to beautify Bay Avenue. “I think the real story here is what is the entry point to town going to look like,” he concluded. “That’s the eye-catcher right now.” The civic downtown plaza is dependent on a seasonal strategy, one which could be greatly influenced with the recent success of the Esplanade Market in Trail. After only four market days, the Trail District and Chamber of Commerce went from hosting 15 vendors to 37. According to Maggie Stayanovich, the executive director of the Trail and District Chamber of Commerce, an average of 500 people attend the market biweekly and the numbers continue to grow.
See POSITIVE, Page 3
BREANNE MASSEY PHOTO
Maya Amantea, 8, used a stepping stool to look through a telescope outside of Cominco Arena during a visit from astronomer Wayne Holmes. See story on Page 3.
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A former Silver City mayor has tipped his hat to the current city council over a $1.5 million surplus the City of Trail now sports. Sandy Santori— mayor for nine years from 1990-1996, and 1999-2001—said the city is sitting pretty after its independent financial audit last month and that means the municipal body can now move in directions most governments fear to tread. With the public release Monday of the city’s 2011 Annual Report, including audited financial statements, and the Statements of Financial Information on its website, people can now follow the tax dollar and chart council’s prudence. “Now this (surplus) gives them some other options: beautify the city, pursue economic initiatives. Those are things that generally take a back seat when communities are strapped for cash,” Santori said. “I think the general public wants to see a more vibrant and rejuvenated downtown core and that’s also a high priority for the city.” During a June general government and
See CITY’S, Page 3
Contact the Times: Phone: 250-368-8551 Fax: 250-368-8550 Newsroom: 250-364-1242