John Pousette, administrator and Ray Parfit itt, assistant . administrator, of the Kitimat-Stikine R. Regional District -- look things. over as Thornhill studies incorporation. | Victoria officials discuss plans “It doesn’t seem likely you'll get incorporation of Thornhill as one, over-all unit at this time = it's likely that you will have to start small,” A.O. Ferguson, Inspector of Improvement Districts, Water Rights Branch, Department of Lands and Forests, told Thornhill people Wednesday night. He appeared at Thornhill Elementary School along with Klaus Ohlemann, a regional planner for the Department of Municipal Affairs, Victoria. | Some 12 maps of Thornhill, prepared by Ohlemann, in cooperation with the regional district and data from Thornhill people, were on display in the school, Ferguson told residents that the Waters Branch must approve any rates for water (or services added later), When water service is installed - the rales take in payment of debls and administration and operation of the sysiem. “And the people must be told whal these rates will be before they vote on them,” he said. Ferguson -indicated thal an economic feasibility study would be made by = an engineering firm - engaged by the regional district’before the water rate could be determined. And he added that in the case ofa private water system being installed in any given area - the people lo be served by it must approve it before the Public Utilities Commission will allow it to function. Ohlemann pointed out that his concern is with the “land use” aspect of the area — such things as locations for residential, industrial, commercial, and public land uses such as schools, parks, playgrounds and institutions. His maps took in the entire Thornhili area as it now stands and showed a concept for development based on the “best use of Jand for Thornhill as a social-economic unit.” The proposed land use map showed much general residential. area along the highway - as it. now stands. General commercial use was located mainly in the central area - not far from where the highway leaves the bridge. Heavy industrial was shown near the river. Other categories shown were; highway commercial - one small central area; light industrial, public and quasi-public; intensive recreational; small holdings, waterway protection area and flood plains. A. land ownership map showed that large priyate ownership accounts for most of Thornhill and that large timber company holdings were very small. There was a considerable amount of crown land ownership indicated and considerable small private ownership. Other smail ownership fell under Dept of Highways, CNR, Pacific Northern Gas, School Board, leased areas - very small; and agreement to purchase - very small Other maps showed soil lypes, water percolation - or drainage, topography and other geographical details. John Pousette, administrator of the Kitimat-Stikine Regional District: said the regional district is not concerned with the form of incorporation - “that is up to the people of Thornhill.” “But the regional district is directly responsible for land use planning - and this involves sub- division control,” he said, . “In these matters we are seriously involved.” School boards, the Department of Highways and the Department of Health also have areas of responsibility -he indicated. He also pointed out that Cleve sits on the regional district board - not just as a director representing Thornhill exclusively - but as the representative of Electoral Area C - which takes in a large unorganized area of about 4,000 square miles and includes such places as: Cedarvale, Klemtu, Butedale, Haretley Bay, Kemana, Usk, Kalum Lake - as well as Thornhill. Water District How is a Improvement Formed? _ First of ail, there are two big misunderstandings that easily arise about Water -Improvement Districts. The first concerns the ‘use of the word ‘incorporation’? and the second concerns the matter of establishing the boundaries that contain any given water ‘improvement district. And the key to the whole thing appears to rest with the economic feasibility for establishing any area boundary As for “incorporation” - government officials have given every assurance that ‘no enforced under the municipal act will take place. And the regional district has no role to play -- no decisions to make about incorporation -- the form of incorporation is decided upon by the people in an open vote. A distinction must be made between — ine- corporation as a water improvement district and incorporation under the . Municipal Act, IncoFporation under the Municipal Act occurs only when people want to be in a village, municipal district or a town -- with a mayor and elected council. And, of course, Thorzhill is not at all interested in this. costly v venture -- at this stage of 7 growth, incorporation Incorporation as a Water improvement district is for specific- services such as a water .works, drainage, flood: control, dyking and irrigation. However, with regional district approval, il can also obtain services for sewage disposal, fire protection, street lighting, animal control] and other s- — ervices approved of by the people. When people want water services they can form a Water Improvement District -- which is really a framework for providing services specified by the people after they have been established as economicaily feasible. 4 petition is first sent around’ by an organizing or ' incorporating committee -- elected by the land owners. Individual land owners sign the petition, either for or against the proposal -- and at least 80 per cent approval should be obtained before it is considered a valid request. ; But apparently, the petition: itself is nol binding until the Water Rights Branch is certain that it is economically feasible. The petition is a préliminary - - that merely establishes that an interest exisis for the establishing of .a Water Impravement District. Then the Water Rights Bran- ch will review the area under al consideration to see if it is economically feasible to incorporate asa unit. After the . water branch is satisfied that any given area or areas are How a Water Improvement District | is formed | economically feasible - then ‘they may be incorporated singly or as one.unit - whichever. is the - most. economical, ' . a An engineering feasibility ‘study by an independent firm is. - not always necessary -- the Water Rights Branch may: make its own decision [tom — information it has obtained, 1° * In the case of Thornhill; if oh SEs they request that’ an. ind. oe ependent feasibility study’ be done by the regional district -. through ithe. services “of. a private firm -- prior-to incorpo-- ration = Thornhill will pay. as a benefitting area... - The policy of the Water Right Branch is to incorporate as small an area as possible at the _ start to serve the principal area | or areas which ‘appear to be the ~ - — most economical units. However, . this does. nol... prevent the areas from extending ‘their boundaries to include a larger area as the need arises.. In other words it _- - provides . flexibility and prevents a situation arising where an area having been established .as one big district finds itself unable to provide water to any given area within its boundaries -- through a miscalculation of costs or other problems, area has been incorporated and then an economic feasibility study has shown that a, much smalier area can be serviced to remain within the guidelines of $12a month. Long water lines belween ‘areas that have no one Reel + £ ALASKA aS ansred HIGHWAYS . HIGHWAYS. UNDER ~.. . GONSTRUCTI -. > HiGHWav PROPOSALS "|. EXISTING RAILWAYS RAILWAY PROPOSALS | ‘LEGEND UNE 1972 ION ar a « OAWSON } TERRITORY YUKON WHITEHORSE - BRITISH. c OLUMBIA. ie : nf” INUVIK i /¢ ‘ARCTIC RED RIVER eR ‘sy NORTHWEST TERRITORIES | gets i SKAGWAY eA 5 : e ‘ i N * oe we oe: PROPOSED . ; . ° eS AWATSON Lane Rie “ie DEVELOPMENT OF i ° Noa -2 \DEASE LAKE @ , “w~ COU @ 7 NORTHWEST | SS saves - TRANSPORTATION } Pow SYSTEM thee bors FORT NELSON 7 j ooo RE AVE . vo ee Ant : . q ritish Columbia and the Yukon OTTAWA - The Federal’ Government, in consultation: with olher levels -< government, inclufing the. Pro- vince of Brilish Columbia, and . , the. Wansportation industries - “eoncerned, is... actively: considering upgrading” ‘anid expanding the highway and railway transportation systems .. in British Columbia and the Yukon over (he next ten. 1 year Transpurt Minister Don Jamieson amiounced today six major proposals © being considered to improve the’. economies of the Western grain shipments, upgrdde res- ource development. in the forestry and mineral regions of ; the . Yukon and British: ; Columbia, and to take , advantage of the planned... expansion of porl facilities. at’ Prince Rupert for Increasing ¢-. ‘xport trade with the Pacific rim “cauntries. The princlpal “Government. proposals | outlined by Transport Minister . _ Don Jamieson are: “British Count . Railways _ . Mey Extensive. Federal studies of the: ‘development needs: and * “potential of the northern British . Columbla-Yukon’ region: -haye © the, Yuleon tothe P Six - Federal Government ‘Tre 7 ansportation Preposals For -B- .- Of ~ period. ae Provinces,: speed up Western ‘Identified a key, need-for-new. ” ‘allway: Rrra Hinks for _ ining from Lhe Prince George ~ region through Dease Lake and -with eventual access to the Yukon. The second is .a i _ connecting link between that’ line and the Canadian ; National's existing east-west » “route into Prince Rupert, Railway Branch Lines - Prince ' Rupert-Kitimat Aréa Construelion of three — new ‘railway branch lines to serve — the forest areas at Ootsa Lake... Babine Lake and the Nass River . .+ would substantially benefit the forest producl industry and the ecuoMy, of the Fegiona. awe Alaska Hgtnay “Upprading of the. Highway, : from: Fort St. John to’ Fort ~ Nelson, a distance of 215 miles, would markedly improve ‘this --route for personal travel and ‘facilitate thé handling of ‘the - increased volumes. of traffic -anli¢ipated in this area in the - . years ahead. Exlension of the Liard itighway . to Fort Simpson, N. W. T. Extension “of this highway :*\from "the British Columbla~. _ Northwest Territories boundary : to Fort Simpson, N.W.T. would . -, provide direct. access to motor. - vehicle traffic from the Alaska ~ . Highway at Fort Nelson to the-. - ye which is.“ os e Federal. '.. Oy Government. it would link the |? -’ Mackenzie Highway, , being “built: py 4 in hhem - have nat. been founa economically feasible... After.:tthe economically Jeasible area is established it may then be incorporated, |’ -The people may then elect 8 board. of trustees for the area, or-areas, to be incorporated. - This may be either, three or tive een "Belore this i is done a returning “officer. is appointed by the organizing “committee — -- “someone who is not running for ‘election, And the returning of- ificer calls. and supervises the : lection: . . The. trustees usually meet “weekly during the planning and ‘“ construction stage...and aiter ‘that, every two. weeks. The : trustees create regulatory by- laws and see that they are .:upheld. and are elected to a. ~ Uiree-year | term. of. office. lowever, inthe first election, _ the man with the: highest vote gels a three year term, the | second -- a two year term and "the third, a one year term. Thereafter its a three year | ” term for each member with one béing elected every year -~ this provides... continuity — of experience. They may meet as _ often as they like. After water is provided any ’ additional services must go to a It has happened that one large 7 petition or d referendum before they are provided. And the vital point is that the - Water Improvement Distriet canal gO ahead with any additi- onal service until il-is approved -by the people as economically ’ feasible. . '« * network are considered to b Stewar Improvement of this route, ag nd the provision of twa additional subsidiary roadg linked with it would result in @ moter vehicle read betweery southern British Columbia and _ the Yukon and Alaska - whictg ‘would be inuch shorter andf ‘ more “economic | than. lh ~ existing route via “the? Highway. . . ‘Skagway Carros eho Consiriiétion’ ot ‘this roa o the sea'via Skagway, Alask. and would greally benelit- th economy. of ‘this area of the . 2 Yukon. With, increasing volumes o - treight destined to move thro - gh West Coast ports, and with major developments foreseen i tie mineral and. forest sector® _ of British Columbia and the - Yukon, many elements. of th ' northwest transportatio inadequate . for the needs of th ". 1970’s-and 80's: The efficienc: ” .. ‘of ‘the’ transportation syste * economically and: sociall affects the whole-of western Cj - anada, including the Yukon. # “The: “Federal Governmeng musl assume‘a substantial role “in ensuring that the upgrading bt and: earns of nort “hwestern- ; ”, Transport Ministe =f imieson, concluded.” ;