COUNCIL OKAYS ARENA EXPANSION
Mayor Keith Olsen said, "This opportunity is far too good to pass up."He went on to express Councilıs appreciation for all of the hard work done by Lyle Thomas and Michael McLaughlin in preparing a grant application to expand and improve Princeton's arena.
Thomas, using an overhead projector, explained to Council on March 7 how the project began as a roof repair, turned into a roof replacement, and then became an expansion project.
Replacing the rusting metal roof will cost $150,000. The Arena Board built a reserve of $100,000 for this purpose. While building the reserve, the government made infrastructure grants available. This presented an opportunity to correct some of the faults in the arena, such as the dangerously confined area for the ice cleaner (zamboni) and additional dressing room space for Junior B and female players in mixed teams. A flaw in the wall on the timekeeper side would not allow space for ambulance attendants to remove a player if the need arose, and it nearly did during one Junior B game. That wall will be moved back 15 feet.
As the project developed, another opportunity presented itself: the 2010 winter Olympics. Thomas explained there will be teams and figure skaters looking for ice time within easy driving distance from Vancouver. These Olympic contenders will come to practice three years before the Olympics, and Princeton is ideally situated to attract these competitors. Further grants are available through Legacy Now grants. If all grants are approved, the $100,000 reserve can grow to $528,000.
To make this possible, the Arena Board needed a resolution of support for the project from Council, and a commitment to provide $76,000 to qualify for the "matching" required in the grant application. Council passed the motions making the application complete.
McLaughlin and Thomas enlarged upon the ongoing economic impact the arena expansion would have on the community, from being able to host KIJHL and other major tournaments, to ice time year round for hockey camps and figure skating camps.
Hockey players and figure skaters travel to the Okanagan during the summer to attend camps. This is expensive, and contributes to the economy of other communities.
Now, the arena brings in an estimated $700,000 to Princeton during a short season. Thomas said, "I believe we could double that."
McLaughlin added, "I believe the economic benefits are obvious."
He went on to say the arena expansion will provide employment for local people in the construction phase, and although it will not make Princeton boom, "every addition adds to community attractions and makes Princeton a better place to live."
COUNTRY CONCERT WILL GO TO AIRPORT
John Babiak, of Tokn Productions, attended the March 7 Town Council meeting to ask for help in his dilemma. He explained he had made arrangements with Princeton Rodeo Club to hold a country music concert at the fairgrounds in conjunction with the May 14 and 15 Canadian Pro Rodeo. At a meeting held on March 2, the Rodeo Club had backed out of the deal."When they learned there could be two or three thousand attending the concert, they felt it was more than their volunteers could handle."
The bands are confirmed for the date, leaving Babiak with a concert with no venue. He asked if Council would allow him to use the airport area where a concert took place two years ago.
Councillor Kathy Clement gave support for the concert, saying the previous concert had been a success in that location.
Babiak added that profits from the concert will go back to the community, and clean-up and security would be to Councilıs satisfaction.
Council approved the request. An agreement will be drawn up and the fee for use will be one dollar.
KUHN SHOOTS DOWN RUMOUR
We've heard rumour Weyerheauser Canada's Princeton Mill Manager Fred Kuhn appeared at Town Council last month for one reason only.To prepare the town for when Weyerheauser pulls out of town in the next few years.
We had to get a comment from Kuhn on what we found to be an unbelievable statement.
"It's got nothing to do with Weyerheauser," Kuhn told the News Leader about his appearance in front of Town Council.
"I went there as a private citizen."
Kuhn says that since the company he represents accounts for a large part of the local economy itıs easy for residents to read things into his actions.
"Weyerheauser has a three to five year plan which is reviewed and updated on a regular basis," Kuhn explained.
The overall approach of the company has been based on a three-mill system in the British Columbia interior.
"The system appears to be working," Kuhn says.
