FRIDAY
S I N C E
JANUARY 4, 2013
1 8 9 5 Nitehawks closing in on leaders
Vol. 118, Issue 3
110
$
Page 13
INCLUDING H.S.T.
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Greater Trail assessments drop slightly for 2013 BY TIMOTHY SCHAFER Times Staff
The residential real estate market in Greater Trail was a patchwork of performance in the last year, with West Trail one of the hardest hit neighbourhoods, according to latest figures released by BC Assessment. In the assessment roll for 2013—a reflection of how the local market was doing—the Silver City bucked the trend of downward consistency that has gripped the rest of the West Kootenay. Variations in assessed value throughout the city’s neighbourhoods saw a 5.2 per cent drop in West Trail, far ahead of East Trail (down 1.37 per cent) and Tadanac (down 1.45 per cent). However, Sunningdale was up .74 per cent while assessed value in Glenmerry rose .56 per cent. The change in assessment for most West Kootenay communities was around -.5 per cent. However, in Trail there was a wider fluctuation than any other community in the West Kootenay, said deputy assessor for the region, Dennis Hickson. “Trail is such a difficult market because of the variation in the housing stock,” he said. “Markets within the city move a little differently than most. So you get a wider variance in the rate of change in Trail.” Out of just over 3,000 single family residences in Trail, over
TIMOTHY SCHAFER PHOTO
The 2013 assessment roll saw some fluctuation in the Greater Trail market and an overall decrease, some areas more than others, from last year. half of them fell into the range of zero to minus five per cent change, but the rest rose marginally, Hickson said. The 2013 average residential assessment for Trail dropped
$3,000 to $174,000 from one year ago, while Rossland’s average assessment plummeted $7,000 to $243,000. In the villages, Montrose’s assessment fell by $2,000 to
$219,000, Fruitvale dropped $3,000 to $186,000, and Warfield dropped $2,000 to $170,000. However, the assessment roll comprising Trail and Rossland’s rural area increased substantially
from $716 million last year to $786 million this year due to the addition of the large hydroelectric facility, the Waneta Dam expansion. Almost $33.4 million of the assessment value is attributable to subdivisions, rezoning and new construction. Hickson said the Silver City’s theme was the higher valued housing retained its value while the lower valued housing in general significantly decreased. Overall, residential assessments dropped in Trail, while commercial values rose, making the City of Trail’s 2013 total property assessment roll static relative to 2012 at $1.1 billion. The City of Rossland’s total assessment roll decreased from $603 million last year to $588 million this year. The Village of Fruitvale’s assessment roll remained unchanged at $194 million. The Village of Warfield’s assessment roll decreased from $164 million last year to $163 million this year. The Village of Montrose’s assessment roll remained unchanged at $105 million. But just because the value of homes in Trail went down doesn’t mean taxes will as well. The assessment roll is independent from the city’s budget process and will not directly impact it, said city chief administrator, David Perehudoff. See OWNER Page 3
Grad class will pick up trees Roadside checks nab drivers BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
Christmas season is over, now what to do with the tree? There is an eco-friendly way to dispose of an evergreen that will also add glitz to the 2013 Grad Class celebrations. The last few years, picking up Christmas trees has been done by the J.L. Crowe graduating class. The city pays the group $750 for the somewhat prickly work. This year, students will begin tree pick up on Jan. 14, and end the service on Jan. 18. Trees should be placed on the edge of the driveway, away from snow and ice, on the morning of normal garbage collection. For those wishing to “de-tree” before that date, there are eight designated drop off points in Greater Trail where trees can be left for pick up. See TREES, Page 2
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CounterAttack catches five drivers in Trail area BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
The West Kootenay Traffic Services set up over 30 roadblocks in the month of December to nab drivers who continue to get behind the wheel after a few drinks. This year, the roadside officers apprehended and issued DUI charges to 12 drivers, nine impaired by alcohol, and three impaired by drugs, according
to Corporal John Ferguson, from the West Kootenay Traffic Services. Three of the alcohol related and two of the drug related impaired charges were made in the Trail area. Ferguson said that there were 13 roadside prohibitions issued as 24-hour or three-day immediate roadside suspensions. “There really isn’t one day that brings in the most impaired drivers,” he said. “It’s 24/7 with many calls related to kids who stay up
until 4 a.m. drinking. “They will go home and sleep a few hours then get up for work,” he explained. “Then, they get behind the wheel with too much alcohol still in their system.” Young drivers continue to engage in talking or texting on a cell phone while behind the wheel, and 10 were charged with distracted driving last month. “People still seem to like to talk on the phone,” said Ferguson. See SEATBELT, Page 2
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