local news City editor: 562-2111, local 503 ",r Citizen Tuesday, May 31, 1983 — 3 Better belt up! City RCMP are out in force inspecting vehicles and checking for seatbelt use as part of the “80 Per Cent Click” campaign. Hundreds of vehicles have been checked for safety features and dozens of drivers have been fined for not wearing safety belts. Friday and Saturday an ICBC-sponsored seatbelt survey will take place in Prince George and throughout the province as officials hope to reach the 80-per-cent level in seatbelt use. Citizen photo by Kic Ernst 'DISCOUNT' AMOUNT ADDED, TOO Water, sewer rates hiked A five-per-cent water and sewer rate increase, effective on the July 1 billing, was approved by city council Monday over the objections of two aldermen. The objections were not on the rate hike itself but arose over the method in which the city will give a discount to people who pay their water and sewer bills on time. People who pay their bills on time will be given a 10-per-cent • discount' but the utility bills will be increased by 11.1 per cent so the city winds up collecting the same aniouht of revenue. The 11 1-per-cent mark-up comes on top of the five-per-cent user rate increase. People who pay their utility bills late will lose the “discount’' and presumably will pay 11.1 per cent more. Alderman Brian Brownridge objected to the discount on the grounds it is “false economy” to of- counc i I fer a discount after first raising the price to cover it. while Alderman George McKnight said it amounts to giving something to “the wealthy" that people who can't afford to pay their bills on time won't get. But Alderman Art Stauble said all that has been changed is wording contained in the utility rate bylaw. Instead of setting a penalty for late payment the city is accomplishing the same thing by offering a discount for those who pay their bills on time. According to Stauble provincial legislation has recently been changed to give municipalities the power to offer a discount rather than a penalty on utility bills. This is the route the Ministry of Munici- Don't nab jaywalkers, city fathers tell police Jaywalkers — bane of the downtown motorist — won't have to worry about a planned crackdown by city KCMP this summer. By an 9-2, vote council approved a motion Monday to ask police to lay off pinching errant pedestrians wending their way through traffic on downtown streets. In his monthly report to council, RCMP Superintendant A.M. Clark mentioned that foot patrols would focus on jaywalking offences as summer weather increases pedestrian traffic. But Alderman Art Stauble told council he felt this was a wrong move People jaywalk because traffic signals allow pedestrians only 10 seconds in which to cross streets, he said. He suggested the light sequence be altered to give them more time to cross and asked for an engineering report on the feasibility of midblock crosswalks on Third Avenue and George Street City engineer Ernie Obst said due to angle parking on both streets about eight parking stalls in each block would be lost if mid block crosswalks were installed. Mayor Rimer Mercier said he felt pedestrians should be able to walk anywhere they want on Third Avenue and that letting them wander around among the cars was preferable to the crosswalks, which he said would only cause traffic snarls between lights. Alderman George McKnight said jaywalking isn't a serious problem and that one of the more unique features of Prince George to out-of- towners is that pedestrians do jaywalk on Third Avenue. McKnight. with support from Alderman Hans Taal moved that no traffic changes be made and that police be asked not to concentrate on jaywalkers. The motion passed with only Aldermen Richard Godfrey and Ed Bodner opposed. BABE RUTH DINNER pal Affairs wants municipalities to follow. The rate increase and discount were recommended in a report to council from the city’s finance and audit committee, which reviewed water and sewer rates with an eye to maintaining such services in a self-liquidating state. Water and sewer accounts in the various specified areas of the city have run up deficits and utility rates will have to be raised from eight to 10 per cent annually over the next five years to recover existing losses and provide marginal surpluses for working capital, the committee concluded. Committee member Alderman Alan Greenwell defended the "discount” saying it’s considered a sound method to ensure the city maintains a proper cash flow. Similar systems are being used effectively in other municipalities, he added. Effective July 1 annual sewer rates will rise to $111.51 from $106.20 and water rates will rise to $95 13 from $90.60. The figures do not include the increase to cover the discount. nor parcel tax rates that apply to utility bills in Nechako. Blackburn and parts of the Southwest sector. In endorsing the finance committee report, council also approved a system of billing metered utility accounts every other month, rather than monthly. A three-per-cent discount for early payment of metered accounts will be offered along the lines of the discount for residential customers. Rental fee waived Nine of 11 council members went to bat for the Babe Ruth Baseball League on its request Monday to have the $635 rental fee waived for an awards night at the Civic Centre on June 25. Council rejected a motion by Alderman Richard Godfrey, seconded by Alderman Jack Sieb. to turn the request down on the grounds that council has been too generous offering free facilities to sports groups. Godfrey said that too often council “makes a mockery” of its civic properties and recreation commission by overturning commission recommendations wJien they come to council for ratification. It was not certain whether the commission had reviewed the league’s request before it came to council’s attention this week, but Godfrey cited a similar request from a sports group that was approved by council earlier this year over an objection from the commission League president Ted Erickson said the request was made bccause the league had spent almost $12,000 on its ball field in Carrie Jane Gray Park, site of a provincial Babe Ruth championship slated for later this year, and is strapped for funds. The league wanted the rent waived so it can raise enough money from the awards night, which will feature a dinner and dance, to buy new uniforms for its All-Star team. Erickson said hockey and football leagues have been given rent concessions in the past for awards nights, but to his knowledge an awards night for baseball has never been held in the city. He said the league has never asked for concessions before and that if one were granted this year the league would not likely return for handouts in the future. The motion was rejected with only Godfrey and Sieb voting in favor. A motion by Aldermen George McKnight and Hans Taal to grant the request was approved with Godfrey and Sieb opposed. Northern problems tackled Citizen news services VICTORIA — The provincial New Democratic Party will hold a conference on northern development this weekend in Prince George, NDP house leader Frank Howard said Monday. Howard said the conference will deal with forestry, single-industry towns, unemployment and resource projects. He said it will be an excellent opportunity to map out a Strategy for dealing with problems in the north. Attending the conference will be Howard, NDP members of the legislature Graham Lea and Al Passarell and national NDP leader Ed Broad-bent and the member of Parliament for Skeena, Jim Fulton. Broadbent will address the conference on north-south issues as they relate to Canada and the U.S. Sprinkling restrictions imminent With three days of abnormally hot, dry weather behind us and more of the same in sight, can summer sprinkling restrictions be far away.’ Water restrictions are imminent, according to city engineer Ernie Obst, who was asked for his assessment of the water picture at Monday’s council meeting. Residents of Western Acres, on Highway 16 West, should get a hand-delivered notice of sprinkling restrictions today. "No sprinkling" between 8 a.m and 5 p.m. is what it w ill say. But the rest’of us aren’t far behind. According to Obst the city will publish a general notice of sprin kling restrictions covering the balance of the city sometime this week. As in past years, homes with odd-numbered street addresses can sprinkle lawns and gardens on odd days of the month and even-numbered addresses sprinkle on even days. However, sprinkling is not permitted at any time between noon and 5 p.m. City reservoirs were able to keep up with demand during the weekend but started losing ground Monday. The Western Acres water system was singled out because it has been more heavily taxed bv the current hot spell than other water systems in the city, Obst explained He went on to say that a problem with rusty discoloration in water supplied to the Bowl has been resolved by Hushing the mains and that this will probably have to be done twice a year. Homeowners can help themselves by draining their hot water tanks to remove any rust build-up, Obst added. Victoria cancels Isle Pierre ferry FURNACE RUNS AMOK by Bll.I. .McEACHERN Staff reporter Angry Reid Lake residents have fired off a telegram of protest to Highways Minister Alex Fraser in the wake of the ministry’s decision to cancel operation of the Isle Pierre Ferry. The decision marks the end of the ferry’s colorful history — dating back to 1922 when service began The ferry — a perennial thorn in the side of the ministry — has been cancelled for restraint reasons, says regional manager Seymer Young. He said the decision was made by Fraser after assessing the region's economic situation. A copy of the telegram was sent to Education Minister Jack Heinrich, Prince George-North MLA. Young added in an interview today his department assessed the ferry’s cost and other regional highways programs and that was the one the minister decided to axe. But area residents are not lying down dead They maintain the service is necessary for regional farming operations because it shortens travelling distance to Vanderhoof supply depots. In the telegram, residents of Reid Lake, Nukko Lake, Ness Lake, Chief Lake and Hoodoo Lake demand the service be restored because thi* “70-mile alternate route through Prince George is not economica Hy feasible,” said group spokesman Les Brown. The ferry crossing on the Nechako River, 50 kilometres northwest of the city, has been servicing area farmers and loggers for more than 60 years Although normal ferry operations resumed m May last year, the ferry was the centre of controversy in 1981 and it wasn’t until several telegrams and meetings that the ministry resumed service. HOME OWNERS Before you paint or redecorate this spring, see our Ad in classified No. 60. ANVIL CUMIUCIIM, Brown said residents have been approaching the department for weeks this spring and were told either the water was too low or the cost of operation was too high. "We got the complete runaround," he said. Les Broddy, highways regional chief engineer, said the cost of running the ferry, which had a $5 crossing fee, is estimated at $35,000 annually- But he emphasizes that doesn’t include maintainance cost or other factors in normal operation. That could run much higher, he said He says in tough times the farmers will have to take a little more time and take the city route to Vanderhoof — an additional distance of about 70 kilometres. “There is good, alternate road access around the route." says Broddy. When the Foothills Bridge is completed later this summer it should help farmers "skirt around Prince George,” for a mor lirect route, he added. “As far as we’re concerned — ferry service is closed," said Young today. Municipal officers hold meeting here More than 340 delegates and guests will attend the 44th Annual Conference of the Municipal Officers' Association of B.C. at the Inn of the North on Wednesday and Thursday. The theme of this year’s conference is "The World Around Us". The conference gets under way at 9 a.m. Wednesday with opening remarks by Prince George Mayor Elmer Mercier, followed by a report from association president Dave Morris ol the Regional District of Coldstream Dr. Peter Campbell, vice-president and director of Wood Gundy Limited, Toronto will speak to delegates at 9 30 a m. followed by an address by Dr. David Cawood entitled "Managing Innovation: Terrorism and Trust”. After lunch delegates will to attend workshop sessions on projierty taxation and variable mill rates; environmental design and public build- ings, and municipal elections — pitfalls and solutions to current practices. At 3 45 p.m. a panel discussion has been arranged with Ministry of Municipal Affairs officials on current and future issues. Deputy finance .minister Larry Bell and Dr. Rod Dobell, director of the school of, public administration at the University of Victoria will address delegates at 8 30 a.m. Thursday on various aspects of provincial and federal budgets. followed by the election of a new executive. At 10.30 a.m delegates again split for workshop sessions. At 4 p.m. former Municipal Affairs Minister Jack Heinrich is slated to address delegates. IF Ian Evans & Associates OPTOMETRISTS J IAN EVANS DOS F AA 0 GREGORY E EVANS BSr.OD ALANE 0 EVANS B Sc. 0.0 ALLAN W JONES BSC. OD FRANK E DECKER. OD J SPENCER CLARK 00 S. 0 0 Optical Wing 401 Ouabac Si Fan* Building Print* Gaory*. B C 562-1305 theAJ My CORRECTION The Bay wishes to inform its customers of an error in our Celebration magazine, appearing in today's paper The Paderno cookware set, on page 11, is regularly priced at $219 98 Consequently, the saving is $20, and not $30 as stated in the headline. The Bay would like to apologize to its customers for any inconvenience this error may have caused Heat forces Lakewood school holiday by MIA STARK Staff reporter If you can’t stand the heat get out of the classroom That was the best remedy Monday lor stu d e n t s a n d s t a 11 o f Lakewood Senior Secondary School when they discovered a malfunction in the furnace had caused temperatures in the building to soar above 35 degrees Celsius Business Manager Joan Bizicki said the heat was "just pumping out of the furnace" when she arrived Monday morning. School board maintenance personnel were called in and found that the furnace compressor had shut off, affecting the thermostats As such, the system did not realize li was producing too much neat, said Bizicki. Barefooted Joan Bizicki, accompanied by colleagues Jim Sparks and Marilyn Shelest, conducts business as usual on the pavement outside Lakewood Secondary. citizen photo by Ric Krnst Students were advised to wait until 10 a.m. while windows and doors were kept open in an effort to cool classrooms to a bearable level. But with outdoor trm-peratures at record levels, indoor thermometers showed no sign nf relief and students finally were given the go ahead by District Superintendent of Schools John Stevens to leave for the day. Staff members, however. did not get the same privilege. They spent the day trying to beat the heat at desks set up near doorways and outside the building Bizicki said she has bet'll working al Lakewood for eight years and has not seen the school shut down for any reason All systems should be back to normal today NEW DEMOCRATS NORTH Invites the General Public to its Conference on Northern Development “Northern Development—An Option On The Future” Saturday, June 4, 1983 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Holiday Inn The conference will feature panels on Forestry, Employmenl and the future of the north Lunch and information kits will be available Ed Broadbent will speak on the International aspect of north/south disparity at 3:30 p.m. ★ ★ ★ Call the NDP Office at 562-1155 for more information ^eW iWttsh ^ Columbia Democratic Party NDP v i