I N S I D E : The mystery of the shallow grave. Page 12
Journal ASHCROFT t CACHE CREEK
Volume 120 No 39 PM # 400121123
The
Thursday, September 26, 2013
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Derelict building given deadline
one’s own community. I think we have to realize with age and impending costs of improvements, we have to seriously look at this.” Motion – Ashcroft Elementary be closed effective the transition of Ashcroft Secondary to a K-12 facility. Carried unanimously with the amendment that it be contingent on the previous motion. “The community does want to see this done right,” said Roden – “ a top grade K-12. We would want to postpone opening if it’s not ready.” Motion – A new elementary school be requested for the community of Lillooet as part of the five year capital plan. Carried unanimously. Motion – George M. Murray and Cayoosh Elementary be closed upon the opening of the new school. Carried unanimously. Motion – Kumsheen Secondary be renovated into a K-12 facility. Carried unanimously.
The Oasis Plaza in Cache Creek will either be brought up to standards or action will be taken, Council decided at its Sept 23 meeting. Council decided after reviewing a report from outgoing administrator Leslie Lloyd to issue the owner of the empty Oasis Plaza – the storefronts and apartments to the south of the Oasis Hotel – with an order to give the Village access to the building in order to carry out an inspection. The building’s owner, Joe Carhoun, will be sent a letter demanding entrance by Oct. 23 so that it may be inspected by the building inspector, the Cache Creek Fire Chief and the Public Works supervisor in order to determine the condition of the building and whether remedial action is needed. If consent is not given by that date, the Village will apply to the court for an entry warrant to conduct that assessment. If the owner consents to fix any problems identified by the assessment, he will be given another deadline to complete the repairs. Lloyd wrote in her report: “The building has been vacant for approximately three years and is a constant source of complaints from residents and from neighbouring property owners with concerns related to the upkeep of the property and escalating deterioration of the building, as well as health and safety concerns and potential fire hazard as a result of its current condition and abandoned nature.” In March, Cache Creek residents complained of dead and dying pigeons that had been trapped in one of the storefronts. Lloyd’s report included correspondence with Carhoun since November 2011, just after she stated working for the Village. Most of it was trying to arrange access to the building for an inspection. The owner who lives in West Vancouver, had repeatedly failed to conduct necessary maintenance on the property and refused to let anyone in to inspect the premises. “Staff is of the view,” she concluded in her report, “that the Oasis Plaza continues to remain a serious risk for health, safety and fire hazard. Staff has devoted a significant amount of time dealing with the property owner in an attempt to resolve this matter. Conducting a safety and compliance inspection to properly assess the initiation of requirements for remedial action is recommended. Remedial action require-
See SCHOOL on p. 3
See PLAZA on p. 3
Trustees, staff and members of the public wait to find out whether school closure recommendations will be accepted.
Board accepts school closure recommendations School District 74 trustees have accepted the recommendations by staff to close the elementary school buildings in Ashcroft and Lytton and create a K-12 school in the existing high schools. “We would like to see Ashcroft Elementary stay open,” said Juanita Little, president of AES Parent Advisory Committee, addressing the trustees before they discussed the recommendations at their Sept. 17 open meeting. “If that isn’t possible, we are ready to move forward and look at the K-12 option.” The recommendations were contained in a report written after last year’s Community Conversations which Gold Trail conducted around the region. Chief Financial Officer Lynda Minnabarriet went through the 22 page report, The Future of Gold Trail Schools and Programs for the 45 or more members of the public who attended the meeting.
While Ashcroft Elementary’s enrolment is projected to increase slightly next year, it needs $5.7 million in renovations to bring it to modern standards. And while the high school’s enrolment is projected to decrease again, it has sufficient space to accommodate all Ashcroft students as it is currently operating at less than 20 per cent capacity. Schools in Cache Creek and Gold Bridge were left alone to allow communities to keep at least one school operating. Minnabarriet noted that Cache Creek Elementary would also allow Ashcroft parents the option of sending their children to an elementary-only if they wished. Motion – Ashcroft Secondary be renovated into a K-12 school. Carried unanimously. “I would just like to say that nobody likes the prospect of closing schools,” said Ashcroft trustee Christopher Roden, “particularly when it is in
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