A2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January 14, 1998

Creditors OK Skeena Cell deal

ALMOST HALF of the Skeena Cellulose creditors who had previously opposed the payment package aban- doned the hard line ranks last Tuesday and voted in favour of the deal.

The second vote was con- ducted after a Supreme Court judge expressed dis- approval with a Dec. 17 vote, in Which the province and) =Toronto Dominion Bank forced a yes vote by designating $60 million worth of their debt as un- secured.

This time ihe province and bank said they wouldn’t in- teryene, and many con- tractors weren't prepared to shoulder the blame for push- ing Skeena Cellulose into bankruptcy.

Just 76 516

of the

creditors voted no last week, and they represented just $10.7 million of the $86.7 million in claims.

With the yes side holding nearly 88 per cent of the value of claims, the vote —

STOP

Riverside trail apposed } at city public hearing

GRAHAM AVE. property owners opposed to the

which required 75 per cent —— passed easily.

In the first vote, the creditors’ group held proxies worth $26 million ~~ enough to push the yes side below 75 per cent if the province and bank hadn't intervened,

Creditors’ group spokes- man Justin Rigsby said many creditors changed their minds in the Ginal days before the vote.

“‘There’s nobody happy with the offer,’ Rigsby said, ‘‘They voted yes be- cause it was a take it or lose it situation,”’

He said most creditors concluded the company was hot going to offer any more money and that their best bet was to get back to work and recoup their losses that way,

Major creditor Lloyd Hull, of Don Hull and Sons Con- tracting Ltd., says his firm, which is owed $2.5 million, voted against the. deal,

But he said he was aware

Press

creation of a riverside trail along the Skeena spoke out Monday night against wide-ranging changes to the city’s Official Community Plan.

“1 will oppose it right ta the end,” said Al Ames, a Graham Ave. farmer who spoke at a public hearing on the changes Monday night. “If you want to go to the trouble of expropriating, it will be a fight every step of the way.”

He said there are already too many 4x4s and ATVs accessing the area, leaving litter, disturbing farm animals, causing vandalism, and putting themselves at risk.

But Glen Rickard told the public hearing a well-defined, well-marked, pedestrian-only trail might reduce the pro- blems experienced by Graham residents.

“] think it’s an excellent opportunity to expand the city’s trail network,” Rickard said. “I think the public is looking for this kind of thing and it would be a real benefit for Terrace.”

The idea of a riverside trail behind Graham Ave. proper- e is just one part of the package that defines enyiron-

mentally sensitive. areas,.placés restrictions on. develop- ment in'those areas, ‘and also includes long-range plans for walking trails, bicycle routes and greenways criss-crossing the city.

Trawin said the riverside trail will only happen if three things take place: the Agricultural Land Commission approves the idea, the city somehow gets money from oth- er levels of government to rip-rap and stabilize the river- bank there, and property owners over time choose to sub- divide or rezone their properties.

And even then, he said, it likely wouldn’t happen for years.

Under the changes, the city will have the power to ask property owners to dedicate a portion of their land for the trail when they seek rezonings or subdivision of their properties.

The public hearing was adjourned and will continue at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23.

By then the city expects to hear back from the Agricultural Land Commission on whether it will allow the trail on Agricultural Land Reserve land.

if not, says Trawin, they'll remove the contentious trail from the plan and proceed without it.

of other creditors who were worried about the con- sequences of voling no.

“The fear was thal the government would abandon us up here, that there would be nothing,’’ Hull said,

“T never believed that. I felt that if we stuck together we'd do better,’? he said. **But [ guess we ge back to work and take what they give us.’?

Terrace Totem Ford, owed $60,000, was among those who voted yes this time.

“Ts not a good amount of moncy but I guess it’s better than absolutely noth- ing,”’ said company owner Jake De Jong.

“Nobody wants to lose money. Nobody can afford to lose money. Bul nobody wants to run out of work ei- ther, At least everybody’s going fo go back to work.’’

The package will give the unsecured creditors $10,000 plus 10 cents on the dollar after that.

If pulp prices go up and

Residents oppose

m city water tank plan

A GIANT concrete water tank on Wilson St. will be an eyesore to the neighbour- hood, residents say.

Homeowners there spoke out Monday night at a public hearing into the city's plans to replace an old wood- staved water tank with a big new concrete one that’s even closer to the homes.

“We will be facing a solid wall of ugly grey concrete,” said Lena Chapplow, adding it will obliterate her moun- tain view and put her garden and greenhouse in shade much of the time.

Another resident said the

city’s promises,to plant tees... i rouse

and shrubs to mask the tank won't help.

“It's like putting pansies in front of a junkyard,” said Rose Mansees.

City councillors opted ta revisit the issue again to see if any other option is possible to reduce the effect on neigh- bours views.

Although city staff had already explored and rejected numerous alternatives, coun- cillors felt the issue deserved a second look,

The $500,000 new tank is needed to replace the old, leaking wooden one.

The tank is needed to pro- vide 1.5 million litres of water — or a three hour sup-

ply for firefighters in case of

a fire,

From Tfront

Council Saying

‘sorry’

the company does well in future years, the creditors

- Heart disease and stroke. - are the #1 Ailfer —

oe Callers Ladi a coun ce

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are in line for bonus pel ta nas amounts worth five to 10 of amen, Box 865 Terrace, B.C. cents on the dollar more in 635-2542

each of the next seven years.

Hull said court-appointed monitors estimate the bonus provisions could be worth an extra 15 to 25 cents on the dollar over the next seven years.

‘Twenty-five per cent more of my money five years from now isn’t going

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“We're weakened,” he said, “If things stay rela- tively calm and we get back on our feet we'll be fine. If

Skeena Valley Golf &Country Club, The Annual General Meeting will take place

they don’t Id oO “rele Sunday, January 18, 1998 Next to Mr. Mikes Gri 635-2820 7 pm at the clubhouse Terrace, B.C.

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Discontinued Towels, Bedding & Kitchen Linen: % Price Sale Date January 13 - 19

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oy

’

Helmut, Come Clean

Helmut Giesbrecht, you and the Skeena Taxpayers Federation, have been saying to the people of Skeena that “the names of petition signers will be made publicly available”. You quote Bob Patterson, the Chief Electoral Officer, as proof. This statement is true, but it is certainly not the whole truth.

Why would you not also tell the people of Skeena about the access restrictions and penalties Bob Patterson said apply to the personal information on the Recall Petition? He said:

“Public inspection of documents and use of personal

‘information they contain may only be for purposes authorized by the Elections Act and the Recall and

Initiative Act. There are penalties of up to $10,000.00 and/or imprisonment for up to 2 years for misuse of personal information...” And, anyone who accesses the names on the petition must swear that they “ have read the warning above that” they, “will not use the personal information contained in the documents...except as permitted by or under the Elections Act or the Recall and

initiative Act.

seat opens

TERRACE voters are going to the polls in March to elect a new city councillor. Tim Down submitted his letter of resignation on Friday.

City council Monday night appointed Elaine Johnson as returning officer to oversee a by-election.

It must he held within 80 days, making March 28, a Saturday, as one date just within the limit.

But Johnson said it might be possible to hold the vote a few weeks sooner, She had not set the date at press time.

Gray says the $350 million the government is spending on counselling and healing will help those who haven’t dealt with their pain, but he’s at a different stage now.

*’'m happy for those who will get help but I've had treatment. I’ve been through all that,’’ he says. Gray is an - alcoholic who has now been sober for 10 years, He says he’s leamed to deal with his pain and anger, And he thinks he and other victims should be compensated monetarily,

The apology just isn’t enough. It’s easy to say I’m sorry.””

Still, Gray says it feels good to finally hear it from the government. And he hopes it helps in his upcoming civil court case.

‘*They admitted what they did was wrong,” he says. “They’ve admitted their guilt.”

CHILDCARE PROVIDERS TRAINING OPPORTUNITY

Training opportunity for childcare providers, recreation leaders, child & youth care workers, noon hour supervisors.

Helmut, you are not an unintelligent person. You know that continually raising the idea that the names will be made public can intimidate some people to not sign the Recall petition. You also know that intimidation like this is very unethical.

: olenty of interes homo 45 hour “School Age Care’ Course | Helmut, if you believe that the citizens of Skeena should tial candidates. starts Jan. 21st. Tuesdays - Tem be free to make their own choices without fear or they've boca approached fer | at The Family Place. intimidation then you must make a public statement that advice by several people | ‘Textbook cost included no citizen of Skeena should be afraid to exercise their thinking about running. in fee.

democratic right to Recall.

. Recall Helmut Giesbrecht

Authorized by W.A. Sandhals, Financlal Agent for Lorne Sexton, Skesna Recall Proponent (638-7739)

Potential candidates have had plenty of time to think about it.

Down revealed in October that he was taking a transfer to work with B.C. Assessment Authority in Chilliwack.

Nomination papers will be available at city hall, ;

FOR ' INFORMATION: CALL

638-186

isi PAS

(Chasin

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