The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor The city will sell an industrial lot to a construction company despite one councillor's fears it could turn into a "junkyard." Coun. Skip Martin was the lone voice of opposition as council voted Tuesday to sell a piece of property along the Channing road to Kozar Construction for $5,500. "Do we have any kind of an assurance that this won't be another junkyard along the Channing road?" Coun. Martin asked prior to the vote. In response, Municipal Administrator Mark Kolt said the lot owner would be subject to maintenance and occupancy bylaws. These bylaws, he later said, deal with issues such as the condition of buildings and yards. "Where there's a lease, you can set more stringent conditions that allow you to cancel the lease," said Kolt, who then asked Coun. Martin if he wanted to table the motion for further review. Coun. Martin agreed to a tabling, saying he had not been aware of the motion before it was introduced. "What I would like to see is a better standard (for properties)," he said. "When you drive along the Channing road and see some of these businesses, it's a mess. And that's our standard?" Have to agree But before the motion could be tabled, councillors Ken Pawlachuk and Karen MacKinnon, who brought forth and seconded the motion respectively, would have to agree. Coun. Pawlachuk was okay with Coun. Martin's request, but Coun. MacKinnon was not. "The gentleman's wanting to buy the property and I'm sure our employees have looked at (the proposal)," she said. Coun. MacKinnon said she doubts the request would have come to the city if the property was not going to be put to good use. When the vote finally proceeded, it passed with the support of all councillors except Coun. Martin, who requested his "no" vote be recorded. Coun. MacKinnon said she would not accuse all of the businesses along the Channing road of being unsightly, to which Coun. Martin agreed, saying that is not what he meant to imply. The property in question is near the city garage. Other highlights from the meeting: Coun. Martin announced a planned vote to establish a four-way stop at South Hudson St. and Phelps Ave. was postponed. He said there were concerns over stop sign positioning. Mayor George Fontaine again spoke of how impressed he is with Pioneer Square at the corner of First Ave. and Main St. He praised the dedication of those behind the park, saying they never gave up even when challenges, including higher-than-anticipated costs, surfaced. Mayor Fontaine called the park an example of what the community is capable of, noting local people not only planned the project, but built also it. He complimented The Reminder's Local Angle editorial of Sept. 16, which praised the park and took aim at those who have been negative toward it. Coun. Ken Pawlachuk encouraged residents to take part in the Culture Days celebrations taking place at the end of September and the start of October. "It will be as much fun as we had last year," he said, adding events will be held in the community as well as at Bakers Narrows. Coun. Pawlachuk presented the August animal control report, which noted one dog was caught Ð and redeemed Ð throughout the month. No cats were captured. Council approved a variation order to permit the construction of an enclosed entry on the front of the home at 12 Burke Ave. Council referred to the Finance Committee a request for free use of the R.H. Channing Auditorium for two Women's Resource Centre events on Nov. 24 of this year and March 15 of next year. The first event is a production called "Love, Loss and What I Wore" that uses clothing and accessories to relay funny and poignant stories. The second event will be a performance of "The Vagina Monologues," which organizer Colleen Arnold said has been "a huge success in previous years." Mayor Fontaine urged citizens to participate in democracy by voting for the candidate of their choice in the Oct. 4 provincial election.
