Bulldogs forward retires early for apprenticeship Sports, Page 5
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Monday, June 22, 2015
» Paper Mill Dam
CRIME
Police patrol local swim spot ERIC PLUMMER ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
Father’s Day weekend on the water Tim Allen, left, brought Gage Watts in the boat for some fun summer fun on the water at Paper Mill Dam on Saturday. The warm weather has brought more locals to enjoy the popular Port Alberni swimming spot. [Kristi Dobson, Times]
CITY
Per capita municipal debt rises to $600 ERIC PLUMMER ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
Each Port Alberni resident has the equivalent of over $600 in debt owed due to long-term municipal investments, according to financial figures included in the city’s recently released 2014 Annual Report. This per capita amount jumped last year from the $460 in short and long-term debt that has collected by the end of 2013 – a figure that more than doubled from the less than $200 per resident owed in 2012. Sewer upgrades account for a large portion of this trend, particularly $5.75 million that the city borrowed in 2013 to help finance the purchase of a sewage lagoon on the west side of the Somass River from Catalyst Paper. In 2014 water treatment investments were added to the city’s amount owing, including $3.5 million for the construction of a new Bainbridge
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“Port Alberni, like many Canadian local governments, faces significant challenges in funding necessary upgrades to aging infrastructure.” Port Alberni’s 2014 Annual Report
Lake Water Treatment Plant, which follows a mandate from the provincial government to improve Port Alberni’s supply of clean drinking water. The upgraded facility adds ultraviolet disinfection to the pre-existing chlorination process. The portion of municipal debt payable over a long term grew even more sharply last year, jumping from $176 per capita to $485 by the end of 2014. Last year the city’s total long-term
debt grew from $3.1 million to over $8.6 million. Repayment plans for the water treatment plant and sewage lagoon extend for as long as 30 years. These arrangements with the Municipal Finance Authority are similar to a house mortgage, said the city’s director of finance Cathy Rothwell. “You don’t buy your house out of your paycheque,” she said. “You take a mortgage out so that you can acquire that asset and it’s going to have a very long, extended life.” The repayment of the $5.8-million RCMP detachment that was completed in 2006 also accounts for a significant portion of the city’s debt. Last year $3.1-million worth of infrastructure upgrades were completed by the city, contributing to the amount owing. Recent road construction includes Beaver Creek Road,
Montrose Street, 16th Avenue, Second Avenue and Elizabeth Street. Storm drain work was also performed under 15th and Second Avenue. Grants of $249,000 and $1.1 million from municipal reserves helped to fund these projects in 2014. The annual report noted that infrastructural investments are expected to continue over the next five years. “Funding estimates require that $14 million be raised from borrowing,” stated the municipal document. “Port Alberni, like many Canadian local governments, faces significant financial challenges in funding necessary upgrades to aging infrastructure.” » We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to letters@avtimes.net. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.
Forest fire emerges west of Nanaimo
Expert offers tips for dealing with injured deer
The Wildfire Management Branch responded on Saturday to a fourhectare fire seven kilometres west of Nanaimo. » Alberni Region, 3
It’s about this time that fawns begin to arrive, and the public is urged to leave them alone unless they have a lifethreatening injury. » Community, 9
Recent reports of disruptive and dangerous behaviour at one of Port Alberni’s most popular swimming holes has resulted in regular police patrols this summer. RCMP have announced they will be giving closer attention to alcohol consumption at the Paper Mill Dam, located on the Stamp River by Falls Street and the Highway 4 bridge. An RCMP release from last week mentions a “number of irresponsible revelers” who have been abusing alcohol at the dam. Over the last two weeks police have dealt with incidents of fighting, public drinking, intoxication, impaired driving and other disturbances. “In recent weeks police have responded to 11 calls for service at the dam, and at the root of each of those situations gone wring was the abuse of liquor,” stated Cpl. Jen Allan of the Port Alberni RCMP. “Responsible folks are coming to enjoy themselves at this beautiful spot and they have to deal with misbehaving drunks who jeopardize their safety – that’s completely unacceptable.” Insp. Mac Richards of the local police detachment noted that any alcohol consumption outside of a private home or licensed venue is illegal. “There is no legal authority to drink in a public place,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where it is – whether it’s at the Paper Mill Dam, whether it’s sitting on Centennial Pier – it’s an offence.” Police plan to regularly patrol the spot to halt the liquor-related offences. Fines or charges will apply. “Any public place, you can’t consume liquor, except if they have a permit, beer gardens, that kind of stuff,” Richards said. “It’s about respectful behaviour more than anything else.” Eric.Plummer@avtimes.net
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ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES VOLUME 66, NUMBER 118
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