EAGLE VALLEY
NEWS
Poor economy closes another door downtown Page 3
Church service gives thanks to those in uniform Page 8
Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012 PM40008236
Vol. 53 No. 42 Sicamous, B.C., • 1.25 (HST included) • www.eaglevalleynews.com
Helping hands: Students of Eagle River Secondary’s social justice class lent a hand at the United Church Thrift Shop Thursday. Clockwise from top left – Ashley Gaetz helps thrift shop volunteer Anne Dolman sort clothing; Curtis Klassen hauls out a load of garbage; Ashley Doyle finds a treasure among future auction items; Arianna Pederson pieces together an unusual lamp. This year the Sicamous United Church will be offering a $1,000 bursary to an ERS student who volunteers a certain amount of hours. Church minister Kelly Grittner hopes the bursary will help encourage volunteerism among students. Photo by Lachlan Labere
Council turns down mayor’s campground application Public hearing: Residents argue proposed campground too close to Parkview Elementary. By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
Sicamous council has turned down a temporary use permit application to set up a private campground in close proximity to a public school. Last week, a public hearing was held in council chambers in relation to a temporary use permit (TUP) application by Jaltia Management Corp. – owned and operated by Sicamous Mayor Darrell Trouton – that would allow temporary seasonal camping at 727 Parksville St. The campground would have been open between April 1 and Oct. 31 and limited to 50 unserviced sites, intended for self-contained recreational vehicles. The TUP would have been for one year, and renewable for two additional years.
Criticisms of the project were first ex-d pressed in written submissions, read aloud by district administrator Heidi Frank. Thesee o letters raised a battery of concerns relating to d noise, pollution, security, the fact water and electricity would not be provided, and thee w campground’s close proximity to Parkview o Elementary. One argued the applicant (who y was not present – the meeting was chaired by Coun. Greg Kyllo) was in a conflict of inter-est, while another questioned why the hear-ing wasn’t advertised in the local paper. Thee y district had also received a petition signed by 47 people opposing the campground, as well as letters of opposition from School District #83 and Parkview PAC president Jackie Munro. SD #83 Sicamous/Malakwa trustee Barry Chafe was first to speak at the hearing. He
Exposing your elementary (school) to a business with a large transient population, for me, is not a very sound decision. Barry Chafe
first commented on how the TUP’s guideline for the use of portable generators is in direct conflict with Sicamous’s own noise bylaw. He also expressed his concern that the campground could wind up being used as a “ low-cost housing alternative for mi-
grant workers.” His greatest concern, however, was how the campground would have provided “easy view and access to the entire playground area of Parkview Elementary.” “Given my 24-plus years experience as an RCMP officer, and my involvement in this community since 1991, I feel I am more than qualified to speak on a matter of crime and crime prevention…,” said Chafe, adding most criminal activity revolves around opportunity. “Exposing your elementary (school) to a business with a large transient population, for me, is not a very sound decision. “I’ve heard the argument from some, because these are larger, self-contained units, the people who own these units have money. See Applicant on page 2