otf A8 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 24, 2001 Resource road By JEFF NAGEL A TERRACE engineering company has been hired to work on a feasibility study for constructing the pro- posed Stewart-Omineca Resource Road. McElhanney Consulting Services has been given the contract to carry out the study for no more than $120,000. Terrace city council agreed to contribute $10,000 to the study. The town of Stewart is also contributing heavily, and has gathered contribu- tions from mining compa- nies that would benefit. Work is underway and the project is to be com- pleted this fall, McElhan- ney officials say. The concept is to build a new route taking in ex- isting logging roads to run from Stewart and Hwy 37 northeast to the Kemess gold mine. It would con- nect to the existing road that runs from there east to Williston Lake. The new road would let Northgate Exploration transport ore from Kemess the much shorter route west to Stewart, saving its present 1,500-kilometre road and rail baw! to Van- couver via Prince George. That could extend the life of the Kemess mine and greatly improve pro- spects for other potential mines in the same area, notably Doublestar Re- sources’ Sustut Copper de- posit. . “We in Terrace think we will stand to gain can- siderably being a supply ‘and service centre,” ex- plained mayor Jack Tal- stra. The study is to examine costs, routes, environ- mental issues and pave the way for more detailed con- sultation. _ Terrace and Stewart mayors have urged the province lo agree to pay for the road and then re- coup the money through tolls on industrial users. Another potential source of financing is the Municipal Finance Au- - gut of thority (MFA), an agency awned by B.C. municipali- ties that typically finances municipal projects like sewers and arenas. The authority might ex- tend financing to Stewart or Terrace to build the road if it was satisfied the project would be a. relat- ively low-risk venture, ex- sculive director Jim Cra- ven said. , “In theory we could fi- nance the road if it went through all the regular hoops,” he said. The widespread expec- tation is thal the Kemess mine would pay a tall — effectively contributing . part of the money it would save on ore transportation costs by using the road - until the debt is paid off. “It looked to us on a preliminary sense that the debt could be retired in a remarkably short time,” Craven said. He said he understands the cost of building the road may be considerably less than $40 million — the amount the MFA once ex- tended to build the Tum- bler Ridge townsite. And the information he’s seen suggests the road would be good for the re- gion. The road would create trucking, logging and port jobs in Stewart, where ‘it would be a huge boost to the struggling local econ- omy. “We're going to have to look for new sources of re- venue for towns and vil- lages in that area,” Craven said. “I think it would be a shame if we didn’t pursue any bright idea that comes the Pacific narthwest.” MFA must be cautious, he stressed. Banding together into the MFA effectively has given all member munici- palities in B.C. a AAA credit rating — something that often has towns in the rest of Canada envious. “We would never do anything that would risk that credit rating,” Craven said. “We’re not in the bu- 7 Kkemess Agenike River ne DOTTED LINE represents the route of a wanted road connecting the Kemess gold mine in the northeast with existing roads farther south. Proponents say that'll mean ore can be taken out to tidewater at Stewart, a cheaper alternative than the present route which is by road to Vancouver via Prince George. And they say the road will open up further resource use opportunities. siness of financing wild schemes without checking them out.” Raising the normal bor- rowing limits that apply to municipalities has been done before and might be justified to allow the read’s construction, he said. “There’s a difference between building a muni- cipal hall that doesn’t cre=. ate revenue and building a toll road that does,” he noted. In order to proceed, he DP. Finally, an automatic good enough TO BE CALLED A HONDA. * Honddo’s first liquid-cooled, four-stroke ATV engine is a 499cc overhead-valve design for excellent forque and a lawer centre of grawily. * Hondamatic™ continuously variable, hydro-mechanical transmission offers three shiffing modes includ- ing Honda's patented ESP system. The rugged Hondamatic, unlike belt-drive systems, features true angine broking and is virtually moinlenance-tree. * Full-time four-wheel drive uses a locker-style front differential for superior traction and lighter steering, # Hassle free, low monthly poyments available from Honda’s own RPM financing program. LuMITED «i v0volve “FREE” purchase of o Honda: RXSOOFA- TERRACE EQUIPNENT SALES L1p “= 4441 LAKELSE AVE. TERRACE 635-6984 weewhonda.ca ; MCall } | MStore stock ae “Members Al refers fo Fabricland: Sawin: bers said, the province would have to change current laws. “Municipalities don’t have the power to build a toll road,” he said, adding MFA has never financed one before, “You may want to re- write the book for what would be required here, especially when you con- ‘sider the fading fortunes of fishing, limber and ‘pulp and paper,” he said. And thai rewriting may” be underway right sow. o .. * @O Darts & Billia _ Accessories Skeena MLA Roger Hartis, who made building the road a part of his elec- tion platform, said new community charter legisla- tion is in the works that would allow municipalities to collect new sources of revenue, He said he’s working to make sure the new charter would specifically allow for the collection of tolls, paving the way for north- west towns to build and tun the Stewart-Omineca road, d, yt Nee + James W. Radelet RADELET & COMPANY Barristers & Solicitors Tax Law ¢ Trusts * Corporate & Commercial 1330 - 1075 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C. VaE 3C9 Phone: 604-689-0878 Fax: 604-689-1386 a proud sponsor of CORTAVUEE tat STOPPERS Terrace Crime Stoppers are asking for your help to solve a series of thefts from motor vahicles in Terrace, B.C. Overight on October 12-13th, 2001 a vehicle on Eby Straet was broken into, Valuable fishing gear was atolan, including wo Pioneer fishing vests and assorted luras. The rear window was smashed out and thiavas made away with over $600.00 in gear. During the same evening, four vehicles ware broken into on the 3600 block of Kaium Street. Compact discs, CD players and various forms of ID were stolen, In some cases, the windows were smashed: in others, the doors to the cars were left unlocked. - : are Then overnight on October 14-14th, 2004, a latga number of vehicles ‘had their windows smashed and objects stolen. These: vehicles were parked on Lazelle Avenue, Scott Avenue, Soucie Avenue, Penner Street and DaJong Crescent. Change, compact | dises, papers and other items are missing. An association of thieves may be operating in the area. Suspicious persons at night should be reported to police. ! Terrace Crimestoppers wants your information, not your - name. Call if you know the identity of those responsible for this or any other crime. Any information is valuable and may lead to the” arrest and conviction of the offandars. Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward af up to $1,000.00 for Information leading to an arrest and charges being lald against an Individual in this or other unsolved crime. it you have any information call Crime Stoppers at 635-TIPS that’s 635-3477. Callers will not be required to reveal their identity nor testify in court, Crime Stappers doas nol subscribe to call display. Call 635-TIPS TERRY’S TIPS HERE’S THE BEEF! Many products are available to strengthen deors and doorjambs. Brass and stainless steel reinforcer plates are available to help your door resist a kick jf attack. 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