NANAIMO REGION
RCMP, Haven Society join on domestic violence issue
‘Avengers’ back ck in action in sequel equel
Work to establish a domestic violence unit in Nanaimo has been a work in progress for years and the result of a close working relationship between Haven and the Mounties. A3
Scarlett Johansson among the stars in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ Movies, B1
The newspaper of record for Nanaimo and region since 1874 || Friday, April 24, 2015 CITY
Officials upbeat after dams talks Province consulted on changing order to allow for more time and about a ‘third’ remediation option SPENCER ANDERSON DAILY NEWS
Nanaimo council is expected to vote Monday to write to B.C. water comptroller Glen Davidson to seek an amendment to an order to complete remediation work on the lower dams by October. Mayor Bill McKay and councillors Jim Kipp and Bill Bestwick and city staff met with Davidson on Wednesday to discuss changing the order to allow for more time and to include a ‘third’ remediation option proposed by
Kipp, which involves reinforcing the embankment of the dams with concrete, plus include beautification measures and other park improvements. Kipp’s proposal has not yet been approved by the B.C. dam safety section as a viable option to address what engineers have identified as safety concerns with dams, specifically insufficient flood capacity. The province has indicated it will support either replacing the existing spillway with a larger labyrinth
spillway or building a large auxiliary spillway on the dam. The labyrinth spillway option is estimated to cost $8.1 million, while an auxiliary spillway would cost between $3 million and $6 million. City officials sounded upbeat about the meeting with Davidson, who they said listened and asked for their request in writing so that it could be reviewed. “The comptroller was receptive to the city’s request . . . and we look forward to a positive
response from him as early as next week,” said McKay in a statement. McKay did not return calls for further comment Thursday. However, pursuing Kipp’s option will require further study to determine if it is an acceptable option for the province. That means further costs to the city. Another factor is an impending deadline for the city to submit an appeal to Davidson’s order, as directed by city council earlier this month. The city’s solicitor
has also been “unable to obtain the necessary technical information” to obtain a stay on the water comptroller’s order, a recent city report says. Spencer.Anderson @nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4255 » We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to letters@nanaimodailynews.com. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.
» Education Gruesome photo twist to Saskatchewan murders A relative of a woman and three children murdered this week in Saskatchewan said their killer took pictures of the bodies and sent copies to the children’s biological father before taking his own life. » Nation & World, A11
Harlem Globetrotters in town for hoops camp Students from Georgia Avenue Elementary, Mountain View Elementary and Fairview Community School have been invited to attend the camp. » Sports, B5
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School trustees formally vote to reopen Cedar high school in 2016 ROBERT BARRON DAILY NEWS
C
edar Secondary School will be reopened as a high school in September of 2016. Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district trustees decided in a 6-3 vote on Wednesday night to reopen the school, which was closed in June of 2014, and was in the process of being converted into an elementary school as the district attempted to deal with ongoing declining enrolment and cost pressures. The new school board stopped work on the $2.6-million conversion project shortly after November’s municipal election. Trustees sought more public input into what taxpayers wanted to do with the facility, as well as other areas of the controversial long-range facilities plan. Nanaimo-Ladysmith Board chairman Steve Rae said trustees also decided to give staff until June 30 to revise the district’s facilities plan to take in the fact that CSS will now convert back to a high school. The board also decided to provide a bus service for Cedar students heading to Ladysmith Secondary School next year. “We know there still needs to be school closures and consolidations in the district to deal with over capacity,” Rae said. “Staff will now prepare new plans, make recommendations and the board will make decisions as we move forward.” More than $500,000 from the $2 million allotted from the
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Cedar Secondary School will be reopened as a high school in September of 2016. [AARON HINKS/DAILY NEWS]
district’s annual facilities grants for 2014-16 had already been committed to convert CSS into an elementary school before work stopped. A staff report released in January indicated it would cost the district at least $470,000 to convert the facility back to a high school. Rae and other board members disputed those numbers at the time. Rae said the board expects staff will provide up-to-date numbers of the costs now that a final deci-
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sion has been made, but added that not a lot of the interior work had been completed before work concluded. Rae, Natasha Bob, Scott Kimler, Stephanie Higginson, Noah Routley and Jeff Solomon voted to reopen the school. Jamie Brennan, Tania Brzovic and Bill Robinson were opposed. Robinson, a member of the old board, concluded that at the time that closing CSS was the best move for the district. “I haven’t changed my mind on
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that, but now it’s time to move on,” he said. “I believe this is a strong board that fought hard for Cedar, but I believe it is committed to the whole district.” Robert.Barron@nanaimodailynews.com 250-729-4234 » We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to letters@nanaimodailynews.com. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.
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