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There will be no paper published Monday, May 19
Proudly serving Cranbrook and area since 1951
Vol. 63, Issue 94
www.dailytownsman.com
Arne Petryshen photos
SHOUT HOORAY FOR TURTLE DAY: The Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP), with support from the Rocky Mountain Naturalists, held the first ever “Turtle Day” at Elizabeth Lake on Wednesday, May 14. The public came by to learn more about the amazing Western Painted Turtle and get up close and personal with a turtle hatchling or two. Above, left: Art Gruenig, Cranbrook’s 2010 Citizen of the Year and Rocky Mountain Naturalist member, was on-hand to show the turtle nesting grounds and a few freshly-hatched turtles. Gruenig has been monitoring and protecting the nesting area for more than 20 years. Above, right: the underside of a hatchling. See more, Page 3.
City council pushes forward fluoride question Arne Petryshen Townsman Staff
Cranbrook has officially set the date for the referendum on whether to cease fluoridation of the municipal water supply as Nov. 15. Council passed the
bylaw at the May 12 council meeting. The referendum will be part of the municipal election. Council also approved the wording for the referendum question: “Are you in favour
of Council adopting City of Cranbrook Cease Fluoridation Bylaw No. 3799, 2014, which authorizes stopping the addition of fluoride to the municipal water supply effective January 1, 2015?”
Mayor Wayne Stetski asked whether the referendum question could have a more neutral stance, with the answers being more in line with “continue” or “stopping” to add fluoride. “In other words, can
you put a checkmark by continuing or a checkmark by stopping, or does it have to be yes or no?” Stetski asked. He said he’s worried that if someone is in favour of fluoridation, the question could be seen
New Canadian Tire development approved Arne Petryshen Townsman Staff
Council has approved the development of a new Canadian Tire store on the north side of Cranbrook. On May 12, council gave the go-ahead for a Highway Corridor Commercial Development Permit which will enable the construction of a retail building on McPhee Road. The applicant proposes to build a 6,668 sq. metres com-
mercial retail building, which will include a retail floor area, mezzanine areas for office and warehouse space, an auto service centre and a garden centre. The garden centre will be a 929 sq. metres outdoor compound. Coun. Diana J. Scott was impressed the applicants have agreed to contribute to the installation of traffic lights for the intersection of McPhee Road and Theatre Road to help with
traffic issues. “I just really give kudos to the business for considering that because it’s going to change the traffic flow,” Scott said. “It’s good corporate responsibility when someone comes forward to do this. So that’s much appreciated.” City staff indicated that since the proposal was for a development more than 4,500 sq. metres located within 800 metres of the highway, it was
circulated to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, which expressed no concerns. City Staff further said that the building finishes, architectural details, an efficient parking layout and the site landscaping would create an esthetically pleasing commercial development that integrates into its surroundings.
See CANADIAN, Page 3
as biased. CAO Wayne Staudt said referendum questions are meant to be as simple as possible and should be the opposite of whatever the original bylaw states. “We lifted a good portion of this question from other fluoride referendum bylaws, so we didn’t invent this question,” Staudt said. City staff estimate the referendum will cost $1,600 for the services of the Chief Elections Officer and $1,000 for the ballots. Council authorized $10,000 for the creation of “position neutral” information on the benefits and risks of fluoridation of the municipal water supply, as well as the importance of resi-
dents’ participation in the referendum. The city first began injecting fluoride into the water in 1966. City staff noted that since the decision to inject fluoride came initially through a bylaw which received the assent of electors through referendum, the city had two options to change the practice of fluoridation. It could hold the referendum, or apply for Ministerial approval to stop the practice and agree to any terms set forth by the Ministry of Health. Council choose to go to referendum. If the Nov. 15 referendum is voted down, then the city will continue the practice of fluoridation.