p- R P A R S E WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2002 I lf Doctor M C U S O T Golf Equipment I 601-D Front St. Emporium T Tues - Sat 9 am - 4 pm 352-1157 Quality The G R A E L 354-4089 N S S O S E L ESTABLISHED 1988. SERVING NELSON & THE WEST KOOTENAY VOLUME 14, NUMBER 39 RDCK reviews IHA planning Possible levy on property tax to fund committee by Charles Jeanes The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) is trying to ensure that Interior Health Authority (IHA) plans for the area do not have negative impacts on local residents, says RDCK director Josh Smienk. A sub-committee to review IHA documents and actions has been established. “This sub-committee will help us get good information so we can make better decisions as politicians,” Smienk said. “We don’t think [IHA] planning is occurring in what we perceive is a rational sense. If the IHA has answers I don’t see them coming forward with them.” Smienk gave two examples of poor planning: the move of laboratory services from Nelson’s hospital to Trail and the loss of Nelson’s Intensive Care Unit. “Most of the peo- ple I represent [Area E] will be more than an hour from a major trauma hospital now,” said Smienk. “We need ser- vices closer to ourselves. That might mean we have to fund them. I think my constituents would support it. People should know how it would be paid for.” Whether a special tax of one cent per $1,000 of assessed property value is levied to fund the committee will be deter- NELSON BECKER mined by the Director for each Area, and the letters of con- War hero remembered sent for the tax will be brought to the next RDCK Board meeting August 24. Any Director who supports the commit- Mrs. Phyllis Gautschi, left, sister of Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, is introduced to Mayor Nobutaka Azumi of Onagawa, Japan, tee with funding from a special levy can sit on the commit- by Nelson’s Mayor Gary Exner, centre, at the Nelson branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. On August 6 (Hiroshima Day in Japan) tee, said Smienk. He expects all the areas close to Nelson – Azumi was in Nelson to commemorate the death of Lieutenant Gray, the last Canadian to die in WWII. There is a memorial to Gray, E, F, G, and H – will agree to the tax, adding, “It is too early erected in 1985 by the Legion, in Onagawa where he died August 9, 1945 on a bombing mission. (See story page 3.) to say” how the fund from the levy would be used. RDCK opposes boundary expansion INSIDE Regional District and Municipal boundary extension, saying he believed all out- needs in a way that was tax-neutral. We started Editorial . . . . . . . . .4 standing issues raised by Directors Al Dawson talks with the Province. But the Ministry person, Street Talk . . . . . . . .5 politicians disagree on how to and Josh Smienk had been dealt with in a meeting Derek Trimmer, indicated that that could happen A&E . . . . . . . . . . . .6 share tax base with provincial official Derek Trimmer July 11. only if there were a blanket boundary expansion of Calendar . . . . . . . . .8 by Charles Jeanes “We dealt with all the 12 issues Dawson and the municipal boundary,” said Smienk. “The City Sports & Rec . . . . . .9 The City of Nelson and its rural neighbours are Smienk raised at that meeting with Derek Trimmer of Nelson indicated intent to apply for a boundary Horoscope . . . . . . .11 in serious conflict over the City’s application to July 11,” said Exner. “Then at the end, they [the expansion. But the idea two years ago was not for Classifieds . . . .10-11 the Province in the matter of expanding Nelson’s directors] asked, ‘What if the RDCK opposes the municipal boundary expansion.” boundaries, say local politicians. boundary extension?’ and Trimmer asked them. Smienk and Dawson oppose the boundary The Regional District of Central Kootenay ‘Why would you do that? We’ve just dealt with all extension because it is not what was previously (RDCK) voted July 27 to tell the Province that your objections here in this meeting?’ ” Area E Director Josh Smienk outlined his take agreed with the City, and because if the City gets the Board of Directors is opposed to a proposed on the negotiations between the municipal and control of tax base along the Kootenay River FALL STOCK Nelson border extension along Kootenay River and Canal. rural public servants, saying that two years ago dams, the revenues might be lost to rural area ARRIVES Nelson’s representative on the Board, Doug the two sets of politicians were in agreement. uses rather than be shared equitably. Exner MID AUG Jay, alone dissented from the motion. “The original idea was, we looked at the possi- replies to this issue by saying it is not reasonable Nelson Mayor Gary Exner expressed frustra- bility of taking advantage of taxes collected by the for the present city council to commit future tion at the reasons the RDCK Board opposes the Province from local dams and using them for local councils to the way the funds would be spent. ARE YOU DIGITAL YET? 0 WOW!! ROGERS' ~ AT&T Outdoor Clothing “MADE IN BC” WIRELESS ) WE ARE NOT ‘JUST IN NELSON’ Life Fresh • Sustainable • Organic FOODS A digital PCS phone for BUT ‘THROUGHOUT THE KOOTENAYS!!’ * is $24 WE OFFER AND  Digital PCS OUR GUARANTEE Good!  Call Display We will not be undersold. We will beat any PRODUCTS  Per second billing advertised offer on cell phones or accessories. Kootenay Co-op • 354-4077  Text/e-mail messaging *on any new 2 year term. 354-1006 NOKIA 5165 ™ Rogers Communications Inc. Used under License. ®AT&T Corp. 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