Wednesday, October 24, 2012
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Volume 92 - No. 43
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Burns Lake Chamber of Commerce hosts small business workshop. p5
www.ldnews.net
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$1.34 HST inc.
Pipeline expansion protesters march on Victoria legislature. p14
Taxation referendum for arena in Burns Lake Public meeting shows support of tax increase; no increase to tax base proposed this time around WALTER STRONG On Oct. 18 the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako held a public meeting to discuss the upcoming referendum in Electoral area B (Burns Lake rural) and a portion of Electoral Area E (Francois/Ootsa Lake rural) from the top of Hoppers Hill to the north shore of Tchesinkut Lake. There will be another public meeting on Oct. 22 at the Rose Lake Community Hall. The referendum to vote on a tax increase to fund present and future operational costs of the Burns Lake Tom Forsyth Memorial Arena will take place on
Nov. 3 with an early ballot on Oct. 24. The regional district seeks a tax increase to cover increased operating costs and some repairs. A letter sent out on Sept. 28, 2012 indicated that, “The tax limits under the existing bylaw is no longer adequate to assure the long term success of the facility.” User fees have been increased to recover some of these operating costs, but they cannot cover the full amount without discouraging use of the facility. Taxation will increase to a new maximum of $92 dollars per $100,000 in residential property improvements. This is an increase
from the current rate of $60 per $100,000 in improvements. This tax increase would be based on 2012 assessments and would decrease back to $68 per $100,000 in 2020. This decrease would happen because by then a $75,000 1999 renovation debt will have been repaid. Approximately 10 people attended the Oct. 18 meeting. Bill Miller, Director of Electoral Area B noted that the tax increase was a maximum and not necessarily what residents would be asked to pay. Cheryl Anderson, Chief Electoral Officer, said that residents would need two pieces of identifi-
cation demonstrating identity and residency to vote on Nov. 3. Renters can also vote, as they pay taxes through their rent. Village of Burns Lake Mayor Luke Strimbold was at the meeting to confirm the Village of Burns Lake support for the tax increase, and if the referendum is passed, then municipal tax payers will also pay the increase. “Council supports the increase, so we will not have to go to referendum,” Strimbold said. Mayor Strimbold identified two areas of particular concern in the Lakes District. “In More on page 3...
IT’S THE START OF A COLD WEEK IN BURNS LAKE Environment Canada reported a chilly minus 14 in Burns Lake on the morning of Oct. 22, 2012. The waters of Burns Lake are covered by an early morning mist as the sun does its best to warm up the day. The normal historical low for this day is minus 1, and the rest of the week should be more in line with that norm. There was a Walter Strong photo 20 cm snowfall warning in effect for Fort Nelson, so it could have been even more winter like here.
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Phone: 250.692.1700 • Fax: 250.692.1750 • Toll Free: 1.866.692.1943 545 Highway 16 West • PO Box 5000, Burns Lake, BC • V0J 1E0 Email: lksdist@cnc.bc.ca • Website: www.cnc.bc.ca/lakesdistrict