GAS PRICE WAR PAGE 3 merrittherald.com
MEN DRESS UP LIKE WOMEN PAGE 5
MSS BASKETBALL UNDERWAY PAGE 26
Nicola Valley’s News Voice Since 1905
bcclassified.com
MERRITT HERALD FREE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2012 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS
Merritt transit marks 5 years Ridership increased by about 200 per cent since 2007 By Emily Wessel THE HERALD
reporter@merrittherald.com
NEW PLAYGROUND (L-R) Students from Nicola Canford Elementary in Lower Nicola, Darren Gauthier and Jersi Emmerick, both Grade 3, enjoy the new playground at Smith Pioneer Park last Thursday. Teachers picked the ideal day, as temperatures tempted the 10 C mark. Phillip Woolgar/Herald
The City of Merritt celebrated Merritt Transit’s fifth anniversary with a coffee and cake reception at the Civic Centre on Tuesday. According to a press release, ridership over the last five years has increased more than 200 per cent, while service hours have also increased from five days a week to six, and from 10.5 hours per day to 15. “We’ve come a long way for a short time,” BC Transit
Senior Regional Transit Manager Steve Harvard said in a speech to about 10 people. “If you want to talk about ridership... wow, what a success story.” Harvard said when the buses began running, they averaged 1,500 riders per month. Last year, they averaged 4,600 per month. Transit arrived in Merritt on Nov. 5, 2007, after members of city council formed a transit committee to start bus service in the city.
See ‘Dignitaries’ Page 2
Council asked to forgive church charges By Phillip Woolgar THE HERALD
newsroom@merrittherald.com
At least one member of a church congregation wants the City of Merritt to waive fees charged for water meter installation and garbage collection. Trinity United Church member Richie Gage told council at their regular meeting on Nov. 20 that churches provide the community with numerous benefits and they shouldn’t have to
pay the fees. “We are currently put in the same category as a business,” he said. “There is no end to what churches do in this community. We run soup kitchens and donate to the [Nicola Valley and District Food Bank].” He said the church is challenged to pay $300 for a water meter, $200 for installation, $150 for turning it on, and a “mandatory” $60 plumbing inspection fee. Some
Take a Photo! M E R R I T T Independently owned and operated
REAL ESTATE LISTINGS INSIDE Ph: 250-378-6181 1988 Quilchena Ave.
+
‘We are currently put in the same category as a business.’ —TRINITY UNITED CHURCH MEMBER RICHIE GAGE
churches will also be challenged to pay a $200 backflow valve, he said. The city now requires the meter on all serviced properties. Another $800 is required to pay for garbage disposal each year, though council recently reduced that by about
$300 for all businesses in the city. Gage said he pays about $350 per year at his home. But according to the city’s chief administrative officer Matt Noble, the province assesses churches as commercial entities and council instructed city staff to charge
churches according to the designation. “When I did check, I was led to believe that all other cities deal with this issue the way that we’re dealing with it now,” he said, noting churches are already exempt from municipal taxes in Merritt. Coun. Mike Goetz said the city would have to omit every Merritt church from the charges if the Trinity United request is granted.
“Most churches in town are tax exempt, so you pay no taxes,” he said. “The problem is you already get a tax break as it is.” Coun. Harry Kroeker said despite the commercial designation to churches, council has an opportunity to review the charges. “I think we as a council could make exceptions to this particular situation,” he said. “Why should these churches
Pick a Frame!
= Get a Cake!
3673 DeWolf Way • 2 250-378-5030 50-3 378-5030
with purchase of
Limit one per customer
that have been working the way they have for years be [faced] with this problem?” Kroeker called for a report from administration, to which council voted unanimously in favour of detailing the current charges to churches and what council’s options are in handling the matter. How the charges would be restructured wasn’t discussed during the meeting.