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Vol. 89 Issue 33 • Wednesday, August 15, 2012 • www.arrowlakesnews.com • 250-265-3823 • $1.25
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“A life without garlic would surely stink”
Volunteer directors of the society that ran Nakusp Music Fest may or may not be liable for outstanding amounts owed now that bankruptcy has been declared. PHOTO COURTESY OF NAKUSP MUSIC FEST
Nakusp Music Fest society bankrupt By Claire Paradis Arrow Lakes News
Over a dozen creditors will likely be out of luck as far as regaining equipment or money owed to them by the Nakusp Roots Music Society. Sad news of the Nakusp Roots Music Society’s bankruptcy came as a notice posted by KPMG Inc. in the paper for the first meeting of creditors on August 10, 2012 at the Kuskanax. At the end of last year, after taking hard losses for two years in a row, the Society made the decision not to hold a festival in 2012. The news of the bankruptcy wasn’t a huge surprise, considering the festival’s recent history, but the process was still a sad marker of the loss of what was the largest revenue-generating event for Nakusp in recent history, made sadder by the knowledge that local businesses and families will have lost money, as well the festival. On August 10, 2012, creditors filed into the Tenderfoot basement with claims against the Society who had put on the annual Nakusp Music Festival from 2004 until 2011. James F. Gilchrist, Vice-President and representative of KMPG Inc., moved the meeting through its necessary paces with an efficient and friendly manner. “These meetings don’t take very long,” he said, and quickly but carefully executed all the requisite legal steps. After the meeting, former Society President Donna Rebman was clearly upset, but said she was relieved the process hadn’t been as emotional as she had feared.
Rumours that the volunteers who were on the Board of the Society may be personally liable for outstanding sums have been circulating, one considerable sum being a sizeable amount owed to Revenue Canada. Although it is true that board directors may be held personally liable in some cases, a source of stress for volunteers who were trying to help their community, local opinion was that the Society directors would be ok. “I cannot see anybody getting any money from the Nakusp Roots Music Society,” said Benny Bruneau, one of the creditors who said he would take the loss and not bother trying to legally recoup his money. “I take my losses and have to move on,” Bruneau said, who saw no good in pursuing individual members of a small volunteer board. “Imagine what would happen to Minor Hockey,” he commented, noting that even fewer people would be willing to come out and give their time volunteering if they feared being sued. “I think they are safe,” said Willi Jahnke, who has been in the event promotion business for more than four decades. “When it comes to payroll and taxes, that’s when usually directors are liable, but that’s why you have directors’ and officers limited liability insurance.” Janeke is very familiar with both the legalities of running non-profit societies in general and Nakusp Music Fest in particular. He told the Arrow Lakes News that he was there in the beginning of the festival, and has served as a member of the board as well. His
See story page 7
Walter Pasieka stands by his garlic, and a life with garlic.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY FREEBAIRN
Internet disruption interferes with meter installation By Claire Paradis Arrow Lakes News
After running into problems with interference in Silverton between BC Hydro’s new meters and local wireless internet service, Hydro has put a hold on installing meters in Fauquier, Burton and Arrow Park. All three communities rely on fixed wireless broadband for their internet access, and broadcast at 900 MHz. “About a third of our people are on the 900 band,” said Fauquier Internet Society president Frank Poirier. When Poirier received notice in the mail at the beginning of July that BC Hydro contractor Corix would be installing meters in town, he called the utility with his concerns about potential interference. He was told that the meter transmission would be at 928 MHz, and interference wasn’t likely. Transmission of messages between the provincial utility and the small internet society seems to be an issue. Hydro representative Cindy Verschoor claims that Hydro “sent a direct email to the internet service provider in Fauquier to make them aware of possible interference issues.” According to Verschoor, Hydro is still awaiting a response from Fauquier. “They made no effort to get in touch with us,” said Pat Kula from the Fauquier Internet Society. Kula agreed that the meter transmissions
shouldn’t cause a problem in theory, “but you’ve got to know about the technology,” she qualified. “If [the meters] stayed to 928, then the theory is that they should be OK. But what seems to happen is that they’re broadcasting across the whole 900 spectrum.” “BC Hydro had an open competitive procurement process to select our new metering system and did not specify the use of 900 MHz unlicensed frequency band,” said Verschoor in an email to the Arrow Lakes News, who also added that the majority of smart metering vendors around the world operate in the 900 MHz frequency band. “While the 900 MHz frequency band is not normally used by ISPs, we are reaching out in an effort to work more collaboratively to ensure mutual coexistence of our equipment. We are fully compliant with Industry Canada regulation,” read the email. Kula pointed out that 900 MHz is the only frequency that can transmit through dense brush and trees, a necessity for getting the signal to homes in our heavily treed region. Hydro, the newbies to the frequency, says they won’t install the new meters until a solution to the interference issue is found. “We are still working with internet service providers to find a mutually agreeable solution,” wrote Verschoor, “In the meantime, we have temporarily stopped installing meters in areas where we are aware of possible wireless interference issues until the situation is resolved.”
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