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Volunteers build community garden in Campbellton on the weekend. P. 23
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Campbell RiveR miRRoR First issue 1971
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City directors have to rescind motion that left regional district payroll and finances in a bind KRISTEN DOUGLAS
CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR
A group of Campbell River directors were accused of putting the Strathcona Regional District in financial jeopardy during last week’s board meeting. Four Campbell River city council members, who also sit on the regional district’s board of directors, voted down a motion to allow the regional district to borrow money in order to pay its bills. Dawn Christenson, the regional district’s financial services manager, explained to the board that the bylaw would authorize regional district staff to borrow up to $5 million, either through a line of credit or a short-term loan, in order to pay bills that come in before the regional district receives its tax revenue on Aug. 1. It’s something the regional district does nearly every year but director, and Campbell River mayor, Andy Adams, was concerned about the implications. “I’m not saying anyone on this board would do this but it doesn’t preclude the fact that you could spend all of the surplus and have to borrow the entire amount and then get into a default mechanism where you’re borrowing every year,” Adams said. “It leaves it wide open.” Area D Director Brenda Leigh told Adams the bylaw was to tide the regional district over until the prov-
ince distributes the property taxes, collected from Strathcona Regional District residents, to the organization in August. “This happens to every regional district in the province,” Leigh said. But four Campbell River directors – Adams, Michele Babchuk, Ron Kerr and Colleen Evans who was filling in for Charlie Cornfield – weren’t satisfied and opposed the borrowing bylaw. Despite the majority of directors voting in favour, the motion was defeated because, as with all financial matters, the vote was weighted. Campbell River directors, who represent the largest population within the regional district, carry the greatest weight or amount of points during the vote. After the defeated motion, regional district staff were uneasy about the implications. “We have to know if we can make our obligations,” said Russ Hotsenpiller, CAO of the regional district. Christenson, meanwhile, said the regional district would have to be very stingy with its funds. “I would certainly take every action to withhold payment on all payments that can be deferred,” said Christenson, who noted it would be a challenge just to make payroll. “There’s approximately $800,000 in pay cheques owing between now and the beginning of August and the last I checked we were in Continued on Pg. 2
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Tiny library takes root
A gardener passes a new little library on her way into Laughing Willow Community Garden on Monday. See story on Page 32.
Councillors stamp their foot down, like to give Canada Post a licking KRISTEN DOUGLAS CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR
Campbell River city council is again taking issue with Canada Post.
Some members of council are charging that Canada Post is not living up to its promise to consult with unhappy residents. Coun. Larry Samson said at last week’s Tuesday counContinued on Pg. 3
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