LOCAL NEWS: PROTEST AGAINST BILL C-51 ▼ A2
Times
Thursday, March 19, 2015 ▼ Volume 51 No. 12 ▼ www.clearwatertimes.com ▼ $1.35 Includes GST
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Neave writes sixth edition. See page A9.
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Residents opt to continue Upper Clearwater grant Keith McNeill Upper Clearwater property owners have indicated by a narrow margin that they would like to continue funding the Upper Clearwater Hall through their taxes. In a survey conducted recently by Thompson-Nicola Regional District, 30 out of 57 respondents said “Yes,” to the question, “Should the TNRD collect taxes in 2015 as a grantin-aid for the operation of the Upper Clearwater Community Hall?” The remaining 27 said “No.” The question of how to fund the hall came to a head during a stormy public meeting held at the hall on Feb. 4. At the meeting, Carol Schaffer, TNRD director for Wells Gray Country (Area A), said she had received between 30 and 40 emails and messages on the matter, both for an against. The TNRD provides a financial contribution of $5,000 per year to the Upper Clearwater Farmers Institute, which owns and operates the hall. The money comes from taxes paid on properties in the area. For an average property in
Midgets battle for crown Clearwater Ice Hawk #16 Levi Walker takes the puck up the ice during the first game of the Midget Tier 4 provincial championships at the Sportsplex on Sunday morning. The local squad won the game against Semiahmoo of White Rock 6-0. The six-team tournament wound up on Wednesday. For more photos from the game, see page A11 inside. For final tournament results, see a future issue of the Times. Photo by Keith McNeill
Pie chart indicates a slim majority of property owners favor continuing to support Upper Clearwater Hall with their taxes. TNRD graphic
Highway 5 Little Fort, BC 250-677-4441
Renovations over the past few years have given the Upper Clearwater Hall new extensions front and back. Times file photo
the area assessed at $167,000, that would amount to $40 per year. Following the meeting, surveys asking two questions were handed out to those property owners attending. More surveys were mailed to those propoerty owners who missed the meeting. Of 86 surveys mailed out, 57 were returned. As reported above, a slim majority were in favor of continuing a grant-in-aid during 2015 for the operation of the Upper Clearwater Community Hall. The second question was: “What should happen with this grant-in-aid service in 2016 and beyond?” and had three choices. Of the 57 replies, 27 selected Option A, that the TNRD should, “... continue to collect taxes for a grant-in-aid to the Upper Clearwater Farmers Institute for the operation of the Upper Clearwater Community Hall,” 19 selected Option B, that the TNRD, “...
Highway 5 Clearwater, BC 250-674-3148
Located on Highway 5
not collect taxes but should keep the grant-in-aid service in place just in case funding is required for the community hall in the years ahead,” and 11 selected Option C, that the TNRD, “... carry out a public assent process to eliminate the grant-in-aid service entirely.” Wells Gray Country director Carol Schaffer declined to comment on the survey results, saying she wants to consult with the community first. For a letter from the Farmers Institute, see page A9.
A second pie chart indicates a mixture of responses from Upper Clearwater residents on the future of the hall. TNRD graphic