Maple Ridge News, April 04, 2014

Page 1

Sidewinder Name change won’t make difference. p6

‘Indefatigable commitment to teaching.’ p3

THE NEWS

Sports Morrison: life after hockey. p29

www.mapleridgenews.com Friday, April 4, 2014 · Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · Delivery: 604-466-6397

Pitt tax collection in jeopardy Council split on passing tax rate bylaw by M on i sh a M ar ti n s staff reporter

Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS

Nine lives

The City of Pitt Meadows won’t be able to collect taxes if a divided council fails to pass the 2014 property rate bylaw within the next month. With the clock ticking towards a legislated May 15 deadline, city director of finance Mark Roberts warned council there are serious consequence if they are unable to reach a compromise. Failure to pass a property tax rate bylaw amounts to an offence against B.C.’s Community Charter, which requires municipalities to annually adopt a bylaw that authorizes the city to collect taxes. Penalties include a fine of up to $2,000, imprisonment for up to six months - or both. “As awkward as it was for me to write the report, I felt it was incumbent on me to tell them,” said Roberts. See Taxes, p11

Brittany Muscroft was reunited with Misha, who was hit by a car, after a local veterinarian treated the cat, then posted a picture of him on Facebook. See story, p4.

Connector road out of Pitt plan But mayor concerned doing so will affect lobbying by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s staff reporter

Homes: Countertop choices: tastes and budget. See story, p21 The

Pitt Meadows council passed a multi-million dollar plan to move people and traffic Tuesday without support for a contentious yet-to-be built road through farmland. The North Lougheed Connector – a proposed 3.6-kilometre route stretching from Harris Road to

Beautifully Handcrafted Single Family Homes

Hayes Team 23621 Rockridge Drive OPEN Sat. & Sun. 1-4 pm

Paul • Peter • Kim • Matthew

604-467-0811 Please view our ad on page 24 www.thehayesteam.ca

$

734,900

+ Applicable taxes MLS# V958906 Independently owned and operated

Golden Ears Way – was a sticking point for two councillors who had trouble supporting the transportation master plan while mention of the road was included. Bruce Bell and Janis Elkerton don’t want taxpayers to foot the bill for the connector, which is expected to cost $17.5 million just to construct. The plan estimates the city will have to contribute at least $6 million for the connector. Add on an interchange at Harris and Lougheed and the city’s portion of the $52 million project balloons to $18.5 million. “The cost of these capital proj-

ects has to be looked at very closely because ... I don’t know how we are going to pay for it,” said Elkerton. Both Bell and Elkerton believe the connector is Elkerton unnecessary, though it’s being pitched as an alternate route to Old Dewdney Trunk Road. In fact, the transportation plan estimates only six

Index Opinion Along the Fraser/Health Care As We Age Home&gardening Acts of Faith/Cycling Community Calendar Scoreboard

per cent of Lougheed Hwy. traffic would be diverted to North Lougheed Connector, should it be built. Bell would rather focus on finding a solution for the failing, congested intersection at Harris and Lougheed and worries the connector diverts attention away from it. “Are we watering down what we really need,” he asked, noting the total tally could be much more than $18 million when you add on land acquisition, engineering, design and legal costs. See Connector, p5

Golden Eagle Golf Club 6 6 22 23 24 33 56

Intermediate Membership

Junior Membership

Age 19 - 29 years of age No Golf Restrictions

Age 12 - 18 years of age No Golf Restrictions

94500

$

Price includes tax 6 payments of $157.50

42000

$

Price includes tax 4 payments of $105.00

more info @ www.goldeneaglegolfclub.com • 21770 Ladner Rd, Pitt Meadows • 604.460.1111 Check out our sister course THE FALLS at www.thefalls.com

@goldeneaglegolf


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.