| Restructure package | Offers cash but no land | SAVE Here is a summary of the Province’s offer last week to en- courage the Thornhill/Terrace area to restructure. Land @ Municipal boundaries would be extended to take in the airport if the two communities voted to amalgamate, But so far the province says it won’t tansfer Crown land within the new boundaries — notably the airport lands — to the amalgamated city. Amalgamation would join Ter- race, Thombill, north Terrace, Braun’s Isfand and the air- port lands. Thornhill boundaries don't change if the com- munity chooses to incorporate alone, Local reps see the Crown land transfer as a way for the province to sweeten the pot without expending cash. Cash infuston @ Thomhili would receive $1,282,000 over four years ($250 per capita) if the azea incorporates alone, If Terrace, Thornhill, Braun’s Island and North Terrace amalgamate, the new municipality would get $1,969,000 over four years. That’s $250 per capita in the rural areas ($1.337 million), and $50 per capita within Terrace city. limits ($631,500). @ The Thornhill portion of that money would be put in a fund reserved for public works projects in Thornhill. @ The offer is described as higher than the usual restruc- turing assistance grant, but not the maximum allowed (3300 per capita for unorganized areas $100 pet capita for incorporated areas). #@ A vote to incorporate would also mean the Kitimat Stikine regional district would get a local government restructure implementation grant to caver costs of the referendum, election of first council and hiring of an inter- im administrator to set up the new municipality. Public works Mi Sewer and water projects in Thornhill would get “as high a priority as possible’’ for grants from the province, but no guarantees, Wi Infrastructure projects within city limits won't get spe- cial consideration. Highways/road maintenance WW Ministry of Transportation and Highways would con- . tinue to maintain roads in the newly incorporated territory for five years after incorporation. Mi Highways 16 and 37 will be classified as arterial high- ways and will be maintained by the province. Mi Municipality can apply for provincial grants of up to 75 per cent of the value of an estimated $2.95 million in road and bridge projects within the new boundaries, for up to eight years. The road works include reconstruction of a section of Old Lakelse Lake Dr., part of Crescent St, re- placement of bridges at Krumm Rd. and Queensway, and construction/repaving of Thornhill frontage roads. But the . offer doesn’t specify any improvements within Terrace, such as a plea to help with reconstruction of Lanfear Hill. Policing costs @ Under incorporation, the new Thornhill municipality would have more than 5,000 population, and therefore would be responsible for 70 per cent of policing costs. But the offer says Thornhill taxpayers wouldn’t have to stazt footing that bill until 2002, and it would be phased in over two more years. Referendum options: Mi If Thornhill incorporation is chosen, only Thornhill voters would go to the polls, forming a new municipality if the vote passes. mM If amalgamation is chosen, voters on both sides of the river would vote. A "Yes’ vote could be defined as # 50 per cent plus one vote in both the unorganized area and within city limits, or as 50 per cent plus one of all ballots cast. The latter option would put sig- nificantly more weight on Terrace votes. @ Another possibility is a two-part ballot first asking Thornhill residents if they Want a change in local government, and then as- king them to choose be- tween amalgamation and in- corporation. The option favoured by the majority would proceed if most said Yes to change in the first place. Terrace voters would only vote if city council called its own referendum. WA referendum could be held on November 16 in conjunction with municipal elections, but Victoria would have to receive the restructure committee’s recommendation to do that by Sept. 25. The committee, meanwhile, says that’s too soon, and it’s setting Feb. 22 aS a target date for a referendum. . Cotton and Polyester Cotton Blends | 50, , EVERY TIME YOU GOLF DISCOUNTS AT OVER 740 COURSES Only $26.75 faunas csp RRITISH COLUMBIA LUNO ASSOCIATION Call Fickatmaater a1 (604) 780-4444 oF ¢-000-863-361) the be rhe tae OFF @ Under amalgamation, the new municipality would have a combined population over 15,000 — bumping up its po- lice cost share from the present 70 per cent in the City of Terrace to 90 per cent. The amalgamated municipality wouldn't have to pay the increased. policing costs until 2002, and then it would be phased in over two more years. But that would mean the cost to Terrace taxpayers for po- lice service would leap from an estimated $1.67 million in 2001 to $2.75 million in 2004. However, it’s possible that ; by then Terrace would have hit 15,000 populalidn without “7 ~~~ amalgamation, and be facing that size of bill regardless. City council elections Mi The province agrees there should be guaranteed repre- sentation for Thornhill residents on an amalgamated city . council. The province agrees to a proposal from‘the com- mittee that a neighbourhood ward system be used initially, with local govemment elections eventually. moving towards an at-large system over several terms, The first council would consist of three Terrace councillors, three Thornhill councillors and a mayor elected al-large.. The second time, volers would elect: two from Terrace, two from Thomhill and two at-large. The third term, voters would elect one from Terrace, one from Thornhill and four at-large. In the fourth term, all councillors would be’ elected at-large, arty Terrace Curling Association NOTICE Annual General Meeting Sunday Sept. 15, 1996, 7 pm at the Terrace Curling Club 3210 School St., Terrace ‘There will;be;g members sign | up for the various lgagues at this meeting. “Get Swept up in the Fun” 1 CORDUROY | Great Colors J Reg to 10m FABRICLAND Wa JOGGING FLEECE B Polyester cotton blends large color @ selection Reg to 9m OFF CHILDRENS COTTON p= PRINTS Reg. fo 12m Kees OFF PRICE The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 21, 1996 &13 a aime ate, pn 2g" with Woodie nat we 4555 LAKELSE AVE. 635-2982