The Hope
Standard
Volunteers are helping clean up storm damaged trails 5
Office: 604.869.2421 www.hopestandard.com
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2015
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2 CRIME SPREE IN BOSTON BAR
RCMP have identified a suspect involved in four recent break and enters
3 NEW REGIONAL
PARK EYED IN HOPE
FVRD interested in area along Fraser River for recreational opportunity
SHANE MACKICHAN PHOTO
Fatal crash
The RCMP are investigating a head-on collision that claimed the lives of two Hope residents. Crews were called to Highway 1 eastbound just before Peters Road around 7:45 p.m. on Jan. 23. There were three people trapped and firefighters from Popkum worked to free them. One person died on scene and another passed away in hospital. It was raining heavily at the time of the collision and police reported a westbound vehicle had crossed the centre median and crashed into the other vehicle. The RCMP were unable to confirm any further details as of press time.
11 WILDCATS FINISH
IN FIRST PLACE
Bantam C1 team extended their unbeaten streak into last weekend’s tournament
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Station House project moves forward Kerrie-Ann Schoenit Hope Standard
AdvantageHOPE has been given the green light to manage the Station House project. Council voted 4-2 in favour of finalizing an agreement on Monday night, which will see AdvantageHOPE move forward with the initial stages of transforming the historic building into the community’s visitor centre and museum. “We’re faced with an opportunity here. I personally think that investigating at this point is very appropriate,” said Mayor Wilfried Vicktor. “We all have to remember that the current visitor info centre is of value to the community. We have a sizable chunk of prime real estate that would be available for sale. That is some-
thing obviously that council has in their back pocket to reinvest into this project.” The agreement with AdvantageHOPE was revised in the last couple weeks to give council the ability to terminate the project at any time without cause and reconsider the fate of the Station House should the financial risks be too high. The district has capped the budget for the repair project at $114,000 for 2015, which includes authorizing no more than $25,000 of the allocated budget to perform a full risk assessment and put together a full project plan. This includes examining the structural integrity and building envelope; site access, traffic flow and parking; and hazardous materials. AdvantageHOPE is also responsible
for providing a budget and timeline for the project. In order for the project to proceed beyond the first step and for any more of the budget to be released, or for any additional funds to be authorized, council must approve the risk assessment report and project plan at the first council meeting in April. Under the agreement, the fee for property management services are 15 per cent of the total cost of work, earned as the cost of work accrues. For example, the district’s contribution to these fees for the first year will be limited to $17,100 (15 per cent of the initial funding allocation of $114,000). “If there’s things that turn up during that risk assessment, council’s going to have to look at the information
that comes back and decide what the next best course of action is,” said Tammy Shields, executive director of AdvantageHOPE. “With the risk assessment and project plan in hand, if council deems it not feasible to proceed with the project further or they’re not comfortable with the risks that have been identified, then there’s no further release of funds and the project is basically stalled until council determines what to do with the Station House.” Shields pointed out that AdvantageHOPE was created by the district to carry out the function of economic development. She said the unique Society structure allows for better leveraging of grant funding and the use of volunteers.
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