S I N C E
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FEBRUARY 11, 2016 Vol. 121, $ 05 Issue 23
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TWA meeting seeks new voices for executive
Millions in hospital reserve saves taxpayers: chair
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VAL ROSSI Trail Times
The Trail Wildlife Association (TWA) intends to take a stand on existing hunting regulations that have taken a toll on local wildlife populations but the club plans to beef up its executive first. TWA members are invited to attend an annual general meeting Monday at the Local 480 Hall at 7 p.m. Local conservation officer Ben Beetlestone is the guest speaker set to address the crowd at the event, which also includes an election to firm up positions for the club’s 20-person executive board. “The club is in good shape, it’s just that it’s always the same people doing stuff, and we want somebody else in there with fresh ideas,” said TWA president Terry Hanik. “One of the biggest problems that we had was when they opened up the limited entry elk in the Pend D’Oreille,” he added. “It went to six-point or better and when it’s open for six-point elk, they shoot the other animals — deer, bear, moose, whatever — and that’s why we have a problem now with the shortage of wildlife, so we’d like to see that changed.” TWA’s mandate is to cooperate actively in the protection of B.C. forests, soils, waters and natural habitat of fish and wildlife. The 90-year organization has had its hand in many projects over the years including transplanting elk locally and in Christina Lake, feeding sheep on the Salmo Creston, working on the spawning channels in the Murphy Creek area and goat transplants in Trail and Syringa. Hanik maintains the club is stable, but it’s always a struggle to get its members engaged. The focus this year is getting more people involved and taking on some leadership. Last year, the group realized its needs to tighten communication with its vast member group and has since collected email addresses to ensure individuals receive notice of important meetings via email. TWA is also concentrating on its website, with plans of making its agendas and minutes available online to the public. CONTINUED ON A2
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SHERI REGNIER Trail Times
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Colleen Kassian and her fellow Pastry Shoppe bakers are helping to sweeten up Valentine’s Day in Greater Trail with confections like heart- shaped sugar cookies, layered cake and iced cupcakes.
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How many millions to set aside for the regional hospital is a hot topic every year during budget talks. The reserve fund was established in 2007 and capped at $3 million, then upped to $10 million four years ago. Some politicians assert taxing for future projects not yet identified is a slippery slope, while others favour saving up to cushion the impact of inevitable costs that come with maintaining medical facilities. And, with a $40 million project being championed for Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH), the hospital board chair says building the reserve now, will level the playing field later. “If you want to keep the West Kootenay regional hospital in Trail and sustain it for future years the renovations have to be done,” says Marguerite Rotvold, board chair of the West Kootenay-Boundary Regional Hospital District. “If we have a reserve fund we can use that toward the cost of renovation instead of having a major increase in taxes to the taxpayer,” she explained. “Rather than a spike or drop, I would (prefer) my taxes stay as they are and put into the reserve instead of saying, ‘No’ I’ll pay a big increase when the time comes.” Though the decision for KBRH upgrades remains in the hands of the province, Rotvold says maintaining a $10 million cap could support moving the sustainability project forward in stages. “The Ministry of Health has not approved the renovation so IH (Interior Health) cannot commit to it,” she said. “But if we get information in phases, and what the costs are, we may be able to say we have reserve funds and ask the ministry to support a Phase 1. Instead of the $40 million (all at once) CONTINUED ON A2
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