Page alo — ~ Terrace Standart, Wednesday, April 17, 1991 _add to annual tax levy | TERRACE. — Local residents have the chance this November. to-vote for higher taxes when the city takes its road tax pro- posal to referendum, "If the voters approve: the plan, the city says it will be able to, ¢inbark on a 25-year program. |. to" pave all gravel roads and’ rebuild ‘existing sub-standard paved ones. . “The: road .tax plan. would eliminate the system of Local Innprovement Projects (LIP) now in place. LIPs are for specific. “areas and approval comes from residents who have property fronting roads that will be paved. “All roads would also be curb- ed. and guttered with storm drainage being installed where necessary, thus eliminating all roadside ditches. City engineering director Stew Christensen said'a firm road budget each year: will allow for better planning, a reduction - in-long term maintenance costs and fewer of the. city’s numerous potholes. He estimates the cost of the program at approximately $1 million annually. to the year 2016. That would be enough to - rebuild and pave four large blocks each year. The proposal calls for $400,000 of that annual figure to come from general revenue (taxes), with the balance being raised through the new: and separate road tax equivalent to an 8.2 per cent Increase in the mill rate. . Explaining why the extra revenue would be collected in that way rather than being bas- ed on an LIP, Christensen said the intent is to ensure thase pro- perties generating the greatest amount of traffic paid more. Because they were not used as much, residential streets would last longer, require less frequent tepaving and therefore average out at a lower annual cost. That, he added, would not be : the case with roads servicing in- dustrial or commercial centres,: “Tf the 25-year plan and 8.2 ~ per cent tax hike are accepted, - " Skeena Cellulose would pay ‘an extra $56,500 per year and a smail business in the downtown area approximately $500 more. - Owners of larger residential ' properties would face a tax in- crease of $100. However, Christensen pointed’ out, the increase would | ‘ity paving plan woul be less — perhaps | even eliminated altogether — if the property owner was , already paying for an LIP. Whiere LIP charges were already being levied, he explained, that “amount would be : ’ from road tax’ figure, ets In the case of a ‘residential ‘deducted EE property on the portion of 1% Lazellé paved under an LIP last. . year, there would be no tax: Ine 7 ‘crease. . _ That would remain a the case for 20 years, the ysual period over which LIP payment. is spread, The property owner would then beain paying the road tax. Stew Christensen . Some years yet before | all roads get: black. top TERRACE — Although paving the - city’s remaining gravel toads will be a priority if the proposed 25-year paving plan is approved, it will.be more than five years before some blocks see black-top. Faced with 18km of unpaved streets, the engineering depart- ment has put together a priority list which takes into account population densities and traffic volume. That list targets 32 blocks — approximately $,5km — as number one priorities requiring ‘action in the immediate future.” Examples are Birch Hill, the 4800 block of Dairy on the bench, 4500 Straume in the horseshoe and 5000/5100 Graham on the south side. ’ Priority two roads — 45 blocks totalling 7.9km — would be: slated for paving within the next five years. These include Be / ~ 4800/4900 - Twedle, 5200/5300 ‘Haugland and the-3300 blocks of both Apsley apd Atwood. That would leave 22 blocks (4.2km) of gravel roads still to be tackled, including 2700/2800 Evergreen, 2000/2100 Kalum and 4700 Davis.::, Paved roads in the city. were also evaluated based on‘crack- | ing, pot holes, water’ puddles, heaving and rideability.’ ” The JERRACE -—' Local: resident Miroslaw Kumpolt is the winner of a weekend for two at a Van- couver Island hotel as the Multi- ple Sclerosis Society: continues - efforts to raise money. for. research and support services. His ticket was part of a draw . leading up to the selection of a person who'll win a new opéra \S report ‘indicates ‘44 blocks. (11.4km) ‘failed to, achieve a. rating-abiove 55 out of 100. - Again, these’ blocks ‘were assigned | a.priority with 4800/4900 . Agar, 4700/4800/4900 Halliwell and 4600 Lazelle- ‘being: among ‘the § nine blocks given.a priority one rating. All but two:blocks of the remainder are given priority two status. Society raises money motorhome. As well, the society is flan. ing a carnation’ selling drive later this spring. . Tickets for the motorhome can be bought from members oF the Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and from lottery counters at the Skeena Mall and at Woolworth. - ~The British Columbia: "” provinelal strategy for : ee sustainable development. "Smithers _ Wednesday April 24 - Hudeen. Ba Lodge 2:00 - 5:00 oom Open House | _ ost i 7:00 - 41: ublic Forum | PUBLIC FORUM. Protecting the environment... : Developing: the economy... Can we do both? - Interestad groups ‘and "Round Table on the - Individuals are Invited to make .-~ Environment and the ~ subralésions on any related _.' Economy needs - tople, either by writing to the your: help to craate a - address below, ar at a public , form scheduted for this area. Pre-registration is requested , but not required, and publicis welcome to attend, Thursday A Fil 25 10:00 am - Public Forum cant'd es -— REUND: "TABLE det! s find a better way For more information contact: >> British Columbia Round Table ‘on the Environment and the Economy Suite 229-560 Johnson Street ‘Victoria, B.C. V8W 3C6 1-800-665-7002 @ : ‘Association will |General Meeting ‘April 24th, 1991 28 22 dp trault Street, Prince Rupert Wednesday dune 5 , _. The Highliner Inn 2:00 - 5:00 pm nHouse ~ - “B15 First / Ave Wast 7:00 - 11:0 Public Forum. ane 2 Thursday June 6 * = -10:00 am - Public Forum contd