Along the Fraser Kudos to those protecting Blaney. p6
Downtown enhancements slow traffic. p3
THE NEws
Gardening Little green monsters. p27
www.mapleridgenews.com Friday, september 27, 2013 · serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · Delivery: 604-466-6397
Fire destroys cedar shake, shingle plant Owner, however, vows to rebuild; mill not affected by M on i sh a M ar ti n s staff reporter
Colleen Flanagan/the news
A Maple Ridge firefighter puts out hot spots after a fire early Wednesday at Imperial Cedar Products Ltd. on River Road. see related video @ mapleridgenews.com.
The company that owns a cedar remanufacturing plant destroyed by fire early Wednesday in Maple Ridge wants to rebuild to gets its employees back to work. Imperial Cedar Products Ltd. has already begun sifting through the charred remains of the building on River Road near 236th Street, looking for any equipment that can be saved. “We are in the process of evaluating what equipment is salvageable and have every intention of being up and running,” office administrator Steffie Amlee said Thursday, a day after a fire roared through a plant used to make cedar shake and shingles. Imperial Cedar’s sawmill, located on a lot at the back of the property closer to the Fraser River, was not damaged. The blaze at the remanufacturing plant started around 1 a.m. Wednesday. see Fire, p11
Garbage collection debate stifled Recycling district service, trash to stay private by Ne i l Co r b e t t staff reporter
Sports: Ridge boxing club siblings ready for nationals. see story, p42
Coun. Corisa Bell wants Maple Ridge to investigate the possibility of municipal waste collection, but four veteran council members shot down her motion at Tuesday night’s council meeting. Bell noted that when council last discussed this topic, it was voted
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down to avoid the cost of an $85,000 study, and because council was cautioned that requesting expressions of interest could lead to contractual obligations. Bell said council has since learned that businesses will provide information at no cost to the district, with no obligation. She said she intuitively believes that one operator picking up garbage at every home in the district could do the task more efficiently, and for a better price for homeowners, than multiple operators with customers spread across the municipality.
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deemed confidential, it could be put to referendum in the next election. Coun. Bob Masse spoke in favour of her resolution, and said council could explore the possibilities in a manner that does not commit the municipality to a new system. He also noted that kitchen and yard waste are part of the collection service in Pitt Meadows, and could be added here. Coun. Mike Morden also supported it, but wanted to go further, and obtain the cost for collection of all solid waste. see Garbage, p12
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She noted that when residents are questioned about what services the district should add, 41 per cent list garbage collection. “I can’t count the amount of Bell emails I’ve received on this topic,” she said. “It’s definitely in the hundreds.” Bell suggested that if the issue is
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