News Leader News for July 29, 2008
TOWN COUNCIL NOTES
Elections
On July 21, Town Council appointed Town Administrator Patrick Robins as Chief Elections Officer for local elections in the town. Civic elections will take place in mid-November. Airplanes
The Fraser Blues Formation Flying team has written a letter to Town Council saying they are willing to come back to Princeton in 2009 for Airport Appreciation Day, and are pleased that Princeton has an aircraft fueling service. Chicken Freedom
Council moved to support the Vancouver Humane Society in its efforts to free chickens from the confining tiered cages and have them free range. Trails Society praise
Councillor Jim Manion thanked Town staff and Vermilion Trails Society for all their hard work for the past two years which led to the half million dollar grant to build a foot bridge across the Tulameen River linking the TransCanada Trail at the east side of Princeton. Community plan adopted
The Official Community Plan was adopted by Town Council on July 21. This is a lengthy document that will affect future development within Town boundaries. Copies may be obtained at Town Hall. The guiding principles of the plan include promoting a thriving family-oriented community by encouraging activities that contribute to Princeton's small town ambiance and character and by facilitating a compact and walkable town centre. The News Leader will provide a comprehensive review of the plan next week. Tree giveaway
Town Council was given 6,000 seedling trees to give to local residents. They set up their tree party downtown, guessing it would take all day to dispense that number of trees. They were surprised to find themselves with no trees on hand at the end of 49 minutes. Councillor Jim Manion thanked the local media for making the giveaway a success.
DIKE WALK SPARKS CONTROVERSY
A plan proposed by a local property owner to block off a section of the dike on Tulameen River brought a letter of protest to Town Council. Council is basically opposed to any restriction preventing local residents from using the dike as a walkway. At the same time, the property owner has documentation proving he has title to the property up to the high water mark.
One of the problems faced by Council is the need to placate local residents who want to walk on the dikes. This is not the first time such a controversy has been laid at Council's feet. There is one other right Council has in regard to fencing off the dikes: if there is a flood, or if the dikes need repair, the Town crew can simply tear down the fence and gain access to the dike. The dike is required to be accessible to Town crew at all times.
Council agreed to meet with the owner to reach a satisfactory compromise.
COUNCIL MEETING OPENS WITH A SONG
The July 21 Town Council meeting opened with a song from Rika Ruebsaat and Jon Bartlett. They sang the title song of the new CD they put together for Heritage Month in Princeton and to promote the Traditional Music Festival of August 16 and 17.
They invited everyone to join in the chorus of "Trappers and miners, ranchers and miners, loggers and miners, tourists and miners" and everyone enjoyed the song.
Ruebsaat, as President of Princeton District Community Arts Council, followed with a report of the Arts Council's past year, thanking Council for continued support.
Mayor Randy McLean remarked on the great number of talented people in the community, saying it was hard to get them to display their work.
He commented on the excellent art shows at the future site of Princeton Public Library.
