Alberni buildings recognized for workmanship Enterprise, Page 10
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MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT
Council passes 3% tax hike City stamps 5-year-plan for finances
» Environment
ERIC PLUMMER ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
cut the wood as big as we could, stuff it full, light it and dampen it down,” Thoen said. “We let it smoulder all night. Seventy-five per cent went up the chimney in smoke.” With the new stoves, the reverse happens. “The whole intent is to use a small firewood load and trap the smoke inside the stove,” he said. The burning of the smoke is where the efficiency is created and produces the release of more intense heat in the home. Thoen said what contributes most to air pollution is burning wet wood, dampening it down too much and burning garbage. In conjunction with local retailers, the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District is holding its fifth woodstove exchange program since 2009. “There has been a noticeable drop in particulate matter attributed to burning,” Thomas said.
After months of deliberations this year’s municipal budget has been passed, bringing homeowners a three per cent property tax increase. Council gave final approval to the budget at a brief meeting Monday with the final adoption of the city’s five-year financial plan. Tax rates are covered by another bylaw that passed through its first three meetings, with final adoption expected during the upcoming April 27 council meeting. “It was an eight-minute meeting,” said city clerk Davina Hartwell. “There were a couple of questions, but nothing that derailed the fiveyear plan.” The current increase facing homeowners amounts to additional property taxes of $51 for the average valued home than what was paid last year. In 2015 the typical house in Port Alberni is valued at $185,876, owing $1,756 in levies. Taxes are due on July 2, with a five-per-cent fine imposed for late payments, plus another five-per-cent penalty for outstanding dues after Oct. 1. The five-year plan’s adoption didn’t come without some reservations from council. Although he voted for the bylaw, Coun. Jack McLeman wanted more information on the Equipment Replacement Reserve Fund and a report on the city seeking private sponsorships. “I don’t feel comfortable with the budget,” said McLeman. “Last year we asked about bringing in a thing before this budget on sponsorships and whether it’s worthwhile putting an [request for proposals] out or not, and we’ve had no report whatsoever.” The budget’s adoption comes after the city collected public input on the spending plan last winter, including hundreds of responses gathered from an online survey. The approved tax hike is slightly more than the 2.8 per cent initially proposed by city administration in January with the first draft of the financial plan. Among the cuts introduced in the final budget are $25,000 trimmed from the city’s subsidization of the McLean Mill National Historic Site this year, as well as $25,000 less spending on street sweeping, forcing municipal crews to focus upkeep on Port Alberni’s main roads.
See AIR QUALITY, Page 3
See BUDGET, Page 9
Port Alberni’s fire prevention chief, Randy Thoen, with Sarah Thomas, new chairwoman of the Air Quality Council of Port Alberni, and Sarah McColl of Dolan’s Heating, hope residents take advantage of the incentive to replace old, polluting woodstoves for more efficient appliances. [KRISTI DOBSON, TIMES]
Air Quality Council promotes woodstove exchange to reduce pollution in Alberni KRISTI DOBSON ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
The Air Quality Council of Port Alberni has a new chairwoman and she wants to get the word out about air pollution. Sarah Thomas recently took over the position that remained open from Bernadette Wyton’s retirement and her current project involves the phasing out of older woodstoves. The goal is to remove all old uncertified woodstoves – pre-dating 1984 – with the new CSA-EPA emissions-certified appliances from the Valley. Although it has been illegal to sell nonemissions certified stoves in the province since 1984, there remain many in use in the city. Those older stoves contribute to environmental and health problems, including bronchitis, emphysema and even heart disease. During the winter months, the local trend sees air pollution increase. The valley traps
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“The new stoves emit 70 per cent less particulate matter and use up to one-third less wood.” Sarah Thomas, Air Quality Council chairwoman
pollutants in the air, not only from weather inversions, but from dirty woodstove smoke. Port Alberni is also a region that sees high rates of childhood asthma. “The new stoves emit 70 per cent less particulate matter and use up to one-third less wood,” Thomas said. “They burn wood cleaner so they reduce smoke.” Randy Thoen, Port Alberni’s chief fire prevention officer, said there has been positive feedback, despite a learning curve with the new woodstoves. “The old ones are quite large so we would
Shelter helps residents displaced by house fire
Black Sheep defeat Piggies on home pitch
Since Friday the Port Alberni Shelter Society has been busy coordinating donations to the victims of last week’s fire in a Port Alberni housing complex. » Alberni Region, 3
Port Alberni knocked Cowichan out of the Cowichan Cup on the weekend, securing a spot in the final and a chance to win a trophy for the first time since the ‘90s. » Sports, 5
Inside today What’s On 2 Alberni Region 3
Opinion 4 Sports 5
Scoreboard 6 Comics 7
This Is Then 8 Classifieds 9
On the Island 9 Enterprise 10
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ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES VOLUME 66, NUMBER 77
TIMBRE! WE GOT RHYTHM WE GOT MUSIC WHO COULD ASK FOR ANYTHING MORE?
SUNDAY MAY 3, 2015 - 2:30 PM ADSS THEATRE - PORT ALBERNI Adults & Seniors - $15 Students & Children - $5 Tickets now on sale at Rollin Art Centre, Echo Centre, Salmonberry’s, Finishing Touches, Choir Members, and at the door if available. Sponsored by the Port Alberni Orchestra & Chorus Society