4 yy ad Bs future together as Terrace and Thornhill residents vote on their future Polls to be open all day Saturday VOTING DAY on the restructure of Terrace and ‘Thornhill is fast approaching. This Saturday, Oct. 18 it will be decided by the people whether or not the two communities shall become one. Chief electoral officer Elaine Johnson says it’s im- portant that people get out and vote, regardless of their choice. ‘*You don’t want 20 per cent of the people deciding _ the future,” she points out. Johnson says that anyone who lives in either Ter- race, Thormhill (not including Jackpine), Braun’s Is- land, or-the airport bench can vote, provided they are be Canadian citizens and 18-year-old or older. They also must have lived in B.C, for six months, -and in the community for 30 days. Terrace and Braun’s Island residents will cast their ballots at Caledonia Senior Secondary. Thornhill resi- dents will vote at Thornhill Elementary. * Polls are open this Saturday, Oct. 18 from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. THIS WEEKEND, residents of Terrace and Thomhill will decide if the Old Skeena Bridge divides the two communities or unites them. Myth and uncertainty in Thornhill director examines the issues Former regional district By PEGGY JULSETH ON OCTOBER 18, Thorm- hill residents will make an important decision about their future. There is a lot of un- certainty regardless if you yote yes or no to incorpora- tion; But if you vote yes, there’s- a significant dif- ference. As a taxpayer and resident, you will have con- trol of who sits on council to represent your interests. “If-you choose to vote no you should understand how regional district board works. The board is com- _ posed of. 12 directors from Telegraph Creek, the Nass Valley, Hazelton, Stewart, Kitimat, the city of Terrace, rural Terrace, and yes, one * director from Thornhill. The regional district is designed to give fair and eq- uitable decision on regional issues. :and:. supply - some: planning. to -large- unpopu-. - ‘Jated rural areas. It is not designed to operate sewage systems, water systems, Peggy Julseth recreational facilities, sidewalks, water systems, by-law enforcement, or large fire departments. These things take time, and resource and quite frankly, the regional district board has stated they no longer will allow their staff the time and resources to be speri on Thornhill municipal issues. Over the past 25 years the regional district has done a great job trying to cope with Thornhill’s concerns, but the time has come that Thornhill has outgrown its welcome when it comes to municipal issues. The following addresses some of the myths, realities and uncertainties of restruc- ture from my perspective: Myth: Taxes will go sky high if we incorporate, Reality: Taxes are in- creasing regardless of a yes or no vote. Thorahill is al- ready within $150 of equiv- aient Terrace values on residential properties and has litde control on in- creases. Tax rales for residential, commercial, and industrial properties are set by the province and cannot be shifted from one calegory to another. A municipality on the other hand, does have that ability. Remember, you only have one director on the Regional District Board with your tax interests at heart. Myth: Incorporation is only a land grab by the City of Terrace. Reality: Although Terrace is rapidly running out of land, Thornhill is mainly privately-owned land and some crown lands, and does not have huge tacts of land to grab. Uncertainty; The City of Terrace has been negotiat- ing with the province for the airport lands and could app- vy for a boundary expansion regardless of the outcome of this referendum. If that is the case, how much devel- opment and tax dollars will come Thornhill’s way? Myth: If Thornbill resi-. dents vote to incorporate we will be bombarded with regulations and rules. Reality: Thornhill already has many regulations — animal control, by-law en- forcement, unsightly premises, developing by- laws etc. These are needed to ensure planned and order- ly development occurs in densely populatcd areas. Uncertainty; The new council will review both Thornhill aud Terrace by- laws over a period of time and change them to reflect the needs of a municipality. Myth: Thombill Fire de- partment will no longer pro- vide fire protection to Thornhill and outlying areas and the Thornhill Fire hall will disappear. Reality: Thornbiil and ouilying areas will continue to receive the same quality fire protection. ‘Uncertainty: The new municipal fire department will likely undergo some or- ganizational changes under the direction of the new council which will include Thornhill representation Myth: Thornhill will in- herit building inspection if incorporation were to occur. ’ Reality: The District. could also imple- ment building inspection. Thorahill homes still have to mect electrical, health, and lot set-back regulations. If you vote yes on October 18 it will give you some control over these un- certainties. new United community would benefit alk Terrace mayor offers fin By JACK TALSTRA ON OCTOBER 18 we have the opportunity to partici- pate in a vote that will determine the future direc- tion of our communities. You, as residents and tax- payers, will be asked the question ‘‘Are you in favour ‘of the incorporation of the Terrace/Thornhill Area as 4 Municipality? Yes or No?” The, question really en- compasses three ideas: J. Should Terrace join with Thornhill to enter the one entity? 2. Should Terrace and Thomhill remain separate incorporated and unincorporated arcas as they are now? °3.. Should Thornhill in- corporate on its own result- ing in two side by side com- munities? While the future is always somewhat unknown and un- certain, the option of joining together provides for the Thornhill lifestyle chang ISN’T the THORNHILL anymore. While talk of amalgamation with Terrace raises some concerns about changing rural lifestyles, the area’s bylaw enforcement of- ficer says things are already different. “When I first started it seemed like you couldn’t live in Thombill without having a wrecked car in your yard,’’ he says. ‘But lots has changed since then.” Oldham says that since 1995, about 450 : old cars have been pulled out of Thornhill * residents’ yards and hauled away. In addi- * ton, more properties are being cleaned up ‘and garbage is going to the dump, not on the driveway. “Over the last 10 years lots of new homes have been built,” he says. “And these people don’t want to live next to a | pile of junk.”’ *” Oldham says many people in Thornhill « were happy with the good old. days when ‘ things were more laid-back and there was * very little bylaw enforcement. Back then, ‘ they could get away with breaking zoning * bylaws and bullding regulations. é | Jack Talstra most certainty for ourselves and our children as we enter the next millennium. The advantages of amal- gamation are many, includ- ing: 1. Opportunity — largest population centre in the Northwest -- Jocal control of our own destiny — Jobbing senior govern- ments with one voice wild west 2. Control —— integrated planning io guide our growth — creating a diversified economic base for our chil- dren — increased political strength and influence to meet our needs 3, Rewards — proper expansion of in- frastructure of roads, water and sewer — development of recrea- tional facilities and services where needed — strength through in- creased local control over community issues, concerns, and your tax dollars. The status quo brings un- certainty. Provincial govern- ments spend more money in unincorporated areas than what taxes bring in. Senior governments, short of money themselves, are right now determining haw to resolve that situation. Costs or rural policing are under discussion; grants for But not anymore. Oldham’s job is to crack down on those who break rules like unsightly premises bylaws and building requirements. He cau- tions builders and renovators in Thombhill that the regional district board can even force some new buildings to be changed or tom down if they don’t meet requirements. “This is the 90's,” he warns. ‘‘Peaple have to get with the program.” Oldbam says the majority of Thornhill residents are enjoying the area’s new look, and only a few are causing problems. To help people make sure their buildings con- form to local bylaws, the regional district even offers a free inspection service. Old- ham encourages people to use it, As for the future, Oldham says he thinks there will soon be building inspectors making sure new houses and renovations in to have rules, chy.”” Thornhill meet provincial standards ~— regardless of the way the vote goes Oct 18. “T think we'll see some changes whether we amalgamate or not,”’ he says. ‘“We have otherwise we've got anar- infrastructure and tax in- creases are under discus- sion. If the province un- dertakes a ‘‘pay as you go”’ mandate, costs via taxes will increase in the unincorporated areas. Thornhill will be affected. Incorporation of Thomhill likewise brings uncertainty to both Terrace and Thom- hill. We will become com- petitive at a financial level for no gain. For example, Terrace and Thornhill may compete to attract industry to its own community by reducing the tax rate for such industry. That probably means in- creased taxes to residential rates to offset the reduction. All of us, both Terrace and Thornhill become caught in a losing proposition that our children will have to sort out, to their detriment, Over the past years Ter- race Council has made every effort to decrease the tax rate and has been suc- al perspective on amalgamation cessful in doing so. That is not always obvious when provincial assessments con- tinue to rise. . With diligence, and your control through elections, the new amalgamated Coun- cii would be equally determined to decrease laxes, The amalgamation study shows some slight and some moderate increase in taxes after the eighth year when subsidies end, but again, the Council of that day has the ability to adjust tax rates downward and would in all probability, do so. I, and my Council, would urge. everyone to vote for amalgamation. It is time we faced the fu- ture together, with unified leadership for our region. The opportunity is there to build a shared vision for the future, one determined by ourselves, for ourselves. We owe it to our children and those that follow us. A # % ing with times MORE THAN 400 old cars like this one have been pulled out of Thomhill yards since 1995, The Terrace Standard, Wednesday Amalgamation - it’s your choice Regional - _ The Mail Bag Thornhill forever — Dear Sir: Let’s get something straight - amalgamation of Ter- race and Thornbill-is no tale (The Terrace Standard, Oct. 11). - . ; i As to the opinion expressed by. Mr. Nagel and Mr. Taylor in the issue, I am beginning to wonder what their credentials arc as it relales to reality and econom- ics. Reading their opinion it sounds to me Mr. Nagel and Mr. Taylor went to the same school as Ms. Palag- ian — no-real substance but insults, and promises to Thornhill residents, Bo As to the chamber of commerce [ am beginning wonder where the wisdom has. gone, Mr. Nagel and Mr. Taylor must have learned froi ihe ‘red book’ as we all know. Promises made but never kept. Thornhill people like the freedom. We do not need more governmest; we need less. If the promoters of amalgamation can offer-Thornhill a contract we all can live with so be it. Be sure brain is engages before put- ting tongue in motion. _ Land grab — now we are getting to the real issue. Terrace has made big mistakes in the past and about to do it again. Mr, Nagel and Mr. Taylor don’t know the area well enough, The airport is in Thornhill, not Terrace and we all know the government of Canada has served all of us well based on population —- Kitimat, Terrace and Greater Thornhill, Yes, there Is always room for im- provement. However it is the Government of Canada’s responsibility now. Let’s keep it that way. Don’t put it on the backs of Terrace and Thornhill taxpaycrs. Finally I’d like to encourage Thornhill business oper- ators to stand up for Thornhill and our own interests. Even consider forming your own chamber of com- merce. Terrace municipal politicians don’t know. For them it’s time to go. There is no wisdom leit. , Manfred Lubke, Thornhill B.C. Writer had it wrong Dear Sir: J wish to respond to a letter to the editor, in the Oct. 1 issue from Mike Moore. He claims he has read all the reports and attended key meetings but instead chooses to distort and misuse information contained in the pub- lic information package. His comments on the Terrace area restructure are very misleading and especially irresponsible as he pur- ports an expertise on the subject of restructure. His most controversial remark is that the regional dis- trict has influenced the Terrace area restructure study to discredit a Thornhill incorporation allernative. While this statement caters to an all too prevalent public dis- trust of government officials it is demonstrably not the case with this restructure. The Kitimat-Stikine regional district board is very concerned thal management of the day.to day affairs of Thorahill is becoming bur- densome on the regional district — not allowing us to address much more important region wide issues nor attend to needed projects in other parts of the Kitimat- Stikine. The regional district strongly supported. injtiating, a restructure analysis 10 identify opportunity ‘for mare To- cal self government in the rural arcas surrounding-Tet- race — but without any preconceived notions about what those Jocal government options might be nor about possible municipal boundaries. The regional district and City of Terrace recognized the need to develop a restructure process that would maintain a high degree of credibility and public accep- tance. Responsibility for managing the process was transferred to the Terrace Area Restructure Committee, to operate at arms length from the regional district board and Teriace council. The eight-member restruc- ture committee had citizen and elected official appoint- menis from the City of Terrace and the rural, areas in- cluding Thornhill. The selection of a consultant who is not a resident of the region was further a deliberate choice to minimize the potential for bias in the analysis. Our consultant was chosen from a list of qualified consultants pro- toe ’ vided by the provincial Ministry of Municipal Affairs. He has extensive experience in regional district govern- ment and local government administration as a former administrator of Columbia-Shushwap regional district and later as a privale consultant, Finally, the decision to accept or reject amalgamation is not left to the discre- tion of Terrace council nor the regional district board but appropriately with citizens of the Terrace arca. Mr. Moore deliberately misuses information in the restructure study on such topics as numbers of employ- ees required to administer a Thornhill municipality, im- plies local government motives are not disclosed and alleges costs for Thomhill incorporation have been deliberately inflated. The objective of the restructure process is to provide as much factual information as possible in order for the public to make an informed decision about how to vote on amalgamation. Mr. Moore’s distortion of facts and, generally, his tactics are irresponsible in comparison. Joanne Monaghan, Chairperson Kitimat-Stikine Regional District Life with green hair. Dear Sir: I dyed my hair an apple green recently. I decided to dye my hair because | tried once before but it dida’t turn out too well. But now it did: Then the next day I went to work and one of my co-workers was giving me a hard time about my green hair. After that episode I’ve been going around town a few times. I would think that when a person that you don’t know would just walk by you,but what I’ve found out is that they come up to you and say what did you do to your hair. I thought that people wouldn’t even care. But there is a weird thing to dyeing your hair. Some people look at you and think ‘‘My God, what a weird person’’. I think that you can’t say that I'm weird just because I have green hair. My employer doesn't have a problem with ny hair because he just says it's just hair; it will grow But I like having my hair green. Now I’m thinking what colour to dye it next. ©. : ‘Callum Woodworth, Terrace, B.C. The Terrace Standard welcomes let- ters to the editor. Our deadline is noon Friday. Our mailing address is 3210 Clinton St., Terrace, B.C. V8G 5R2. You can fax us at 250-638-8432 or e-mail - standard@kermode.net 4