2 n TIMESReview n Wednesday, FEBRUARY 20, 2013
News
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Revelstoke Golf Club woes add up to $600,000 bill for taxpayers City taxpayers on the hook for unexpected $592,000 bill after major woes uncovered at Revelstoke Golf Club Aaron Orlando
editor@revelstoketimesreview.com
Civic notes from the Feb. 12 city council meeting. *** You don’t golf, so you don’t pay green fees, right? Think again. City council was confronted with an unexpected $592,000 bill at their Feb. 12 meeting after a staff investigation into the Revelstoke Golf Club clubhouse and out-buildings found many engineering issues that will need remediation, some immediately. The report notes the buildings at the golf course are owned by the city and that taxpayers are liable for any issues arising from the problems. The facilities are managed by the Revelstoke Golf Club. The problems include structural issues in the clubhouse and some outbuildings, as well as electrical and plumbing deficiencies. City engineering director Mike Thomas said about $45,000 was needed right now to deal with lifesafety issues. Council resolved to ask the city’s economic development office to see if there was outside funding available for the renovations. In discussion, council conceded the city was on the hook for the costs. “This is a $600,000 bill at the end of the day,” said mayor David Raven. They discussed the need for a five-year business plan for the club. The Times Review asked how the facility could be left for management by an independent club without adequate city oversight, yet tax-
payers were responsible for liability and the bill. Mayor Raven said issues became apparent last year and that the city had been working on the problems behind the scenes. “There’s no question that the outcome we’re faced with here is finally the first time that we’ve actually got a good number and a good look at those buildings,” Raven said. Coun. Tony Scarcella oversees the club as part of his council portfolio. He said the club had operated on a year-to-year basis and were now working with the city to come up with a five-year business plan.
Spruce trees at Revelstoke Community Centre to come down A lone protest vote by Coun. Chris Johnston wasn’t enough to save the two large spruce trees in the community centre parking lot, which council scheduled for an appointment with a chainsaw to make way for a new bus stop. A staff report outlined plans for the new bus stop requested by the Revelstoke Senior Citizens’ Association, which will include new plants and trees. It also said the spruces were outgrowing their current location and were damaging pavement and possibly the sewer. “I just get the sense that this is a foregone conclusion from staff,” Johnston told his fellow councillors of his objection. “There hasn’t been
a great deal of consultation.” Parks committee representative Gary Starling said the trees “would probably have to come out regardless” because they are overgrown. The city’s environmental advisory committee and the North Columbia Environmental Society had objected to the removals.
City adopts Youth Advisory Committee idea City council began the process to create a Youth Advisory Committee, asking for terms of reference for the new committee. The change came at the request of the staff, who noted the city manages a Columbia Basin Trust contract to hire a youth coordinator. Current coordinator Meghan Shandro has been involved in several youth initiatives and is seeking to “de-silo” youth opportunities in the community.
Micro-Hydro for Revelstoke? Two representatives from the Columbia Power Corporation gave a presentation that outlined the Crown corporation’s activities in the Basin. Council heard the CPC is in the process of evaluating the Duncan Dam for a generation retrofit. The CPC has undertaken projects such as the Waneta, Brilliant and Arrow Lakes generating expansions. In a brief exchange with council, Chief Operating Officer Frank Wszelaki and communications director Audrey Repin said
that partnerships with communities on micro-hydro projects were within the corporation’s mandate.
Council wants sign issue simplification City council provided some advice to staff on the ongoing signage issue, advising them to simplify the process and improve turnaround time. They were responding to a report from staff on an ongoing sign bylaw review. “As long as I’ve been on council it’s always been an issue,” said mayor David Raven of the sign issue. Businesses have complained that city approvals for new signs is a confusing, expensive and time-consuming process. Coun. Chris Johnston said approvals shouldn’t take much more than a week, while Coun. Phil Welock suggested a maximum of 21 days for sign approval. Coun. Gary Starling said onepage instruction sheets could help alleviate the displeasure the city is seeing. The bylaw is in the middle of a revision process that should be completed within the coming months.
Outabounds moves back towards business The Outabounds night club has taken another step towards reopening its doors under new ownership. City council lent their support to an application by the ‘Revelstoke Motor Inn’ (the legal name of the Regent Inn) to transfer a liquor license from the Traverse night club to the Outabounds night club on
First Street West. Regent General Manager Brady Beruschi explained the hotel is closing their Traverse lounge permanently and plans to expand their banquet room into the space. They want to operate Outabounds using that licence. The old liquor licence for the Outabounds club was terminated after the building was foreclosed upon in early 2011. The club was subject to many rumours when it closed unexpectedly, and Revelstoke RCMP confirmed at the time they’d launched a criminal investigation. At a Feb. 12 hearing, Roberta Bobicki of the Revelstoke Credit Union supported the application. The credit union owns the building. She noted the credit union had taken “its largest loss in history” following the implosion of the business under former owners. Bobicki noted the new owners had extensive experience with liquor-primary businesses. There weren’t any formal submissions against the licence transfer during the public process. Several wrote in support. Beruschi explained he plans to operate the club a few nights a week, depending on demand. He said the winter would be peak season. He said the club would employ about 20 or more people. The club had been completely renovated a couple years before it closed. Beruschi said he was ready to open at the start of January, but is still awaiting approval. Council’s approval of the liquor licence transfer is key, but the final decision rests with the provincial Liquor Control and Licencing Branch.
5% city property tax increase is high target for budget Aaron Orlando
editor@revelstoketimesreview.com
Revelstoke city council’s finance committee is working off a five-per cent property tax increase scenario, although the final increase seems likely to drop somewhat as the 2013 budget process nears its end. The committee discussed the five-per cent scenario at their Feb. 12 meeting, one of the last before the budget goes to council for consideration.
The scenario calls for a two-per cent increase in taxation, plus a one-time three-per cent increase to be used to build reserves. City finance director Graham Inglis said the increase amounts to about $100 per year for a home valued at $500,000. A business valued at the same amount would pay an extra $460 in city property taxes. That increase excludes other forms of taxation such as school taxes, regional district taxes, as well as sewer and water rates.
The committee is considering a $7 per year increase in water rates (from $328 to $335), and a $30 increase for sewer rates (from $195 to $225). In a presentation, Inglis said city costs were up over last year. Employment costs are up by 4.7 per cent. Contracted services increased by 8.5 per cent. “Other operating” expenses (a catch-all category) increased by 5.4 per cent. The city will have to take a closer look at its division of tax-
EZ Rock newscaster Bob Crouse dies Black Press
A familiar community voice is now silent. Bob Crouse, morning news anchor at EZ Rock Radio, died last Thursday morning after a long illness.
Crouse worked at the radio station for more than 30 years and was best known for his strong voice, excellence in reporting and love of the job, said Scott Campbell on the morning news Friday. The Salmon Arm-based radio
reporter’s newscasts were also carried on EZ Rock Revelstoke. Campbell said some of Crouse’s best work as a journalist was during the 1998 Salmon Arm-Silver Creek wildfire when he was one of many who worked tirelessly during the
ation burden between residential and commercial ratepayers following a dramatic change in property assessment values announced in early 2013. The B.C. Assessment Authority announced a 29 per cent non-market change increase in total commercial assessed value in Revelstoke this year, while the corresponding total residential value dropped by 3.2 per cent. At the Feb. 12 meeting, city councillor Phil Welock questioned
the taxpayers’ appetite for an increase to boost reserves, saying they are “not going to be happy” with the five per cent figure. The finance committee was scheduled to meet with a budget focus group on Feb. 19 to hear input on the city tax issue. The focus group consists of both residential and commercial taxpayers. The budget process will then move to the city council for further deliberation.
emergency to inform local residents. His efforts did not go unnoticed. Peter Kilby, who had been brought into the emergency operations centre to take charge of the evacuation, offered high praise for Crouse’s efforts. “I really have to compliment you Bob; there’s been no rhetoric,” said Kilby at the time. “You’ve reported
very clearly and without a lot of emotion and what have you, and I think people have responded to that – they’re well-informed.” In a touching salute to Crouse, the station ended the news with his voice and a familiar, “That’s news and weather – I’m Bob Crouse.” There will be no service at his request.
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