Terrace ploneer Ted Johnston presented a copy of his book, "Terrace: 1890 to 1918", to the city at recent council meeting. Johnston searched Victoria archives for several years before having a - Prince Rupert writer put his words to paper, and while thanking Johnston for the gift mayor Jack Talstra noted that it will be a valuable source for naming new city streets, “It even has some Dutch names," he observed with delight.

‘Terrace Review — Wednesday, September 26, 1990 A9

It's a nuisance —

Terrace city council recently dealt with one unsightly premises charge under their Nuisance Bylaw with understanding, but a similar charge against a second Terrace resident won’t be getting the same treatment. Dean Ganson told coun- cil he has operated his business, Ganson Timber Ltd., from private residential property at 5030 Agar Ave. for 22 years and he needs time to remove old equipment and.

spare parts from his yard. At least —

a year, And after a lengthy dis-

- cussion city aldermen agreed that - " ‘was reasonable.

Another resident, though, Anthony Iamele of 2707-2801 Cramer St. hasn’t shown the same willingness to cooperate with the city. As was the case with Ganson, a date was set for a public hearing and lamele was invited to explain to council and his neighbours why he shouldn’t be forced to remove his commercial enterprise from a residential neighbourhood. But three city aldermen and three of Iamele’s neighbours showed up at

the appointed time and place and. Ste

Jamele failed to show. This no-show didn’t sit well with ~~ city officials. It was pointed out

that he had been invited through

his daughter-in-law as well as a. message on his personal answering machine and there was little doubt that the message had been received.

In Iamele’s absence, city planner Marvin Kamenz summarized the © history of the two properties in question and noted complaints . dating back to 1986. In conclusion, Kamenz told those in attendance that Iamele was using his property in a non-conforming and illegal manner and then recommended that the city enforce the city’s bylaws in order to correct the situation.

City aldermen agreed, They have asked their solicitor for a legal opinion and direction as to the best method to ensure Iamele cleans up his property and conforms with the permitted uses of his property in the future.

Library board decides city offer too: ‘vague

by Tod Strachan

In 1988, the board of directors for the Terrace Public -Library unvieled plans for an expansion project that would take the local library into the year 2010. It was a time of optimism and excitement for many Terrace residents and the future looked bright, Particularly when we were just entering an era

TERRACE

of expanded awareness of the extent of illiteracy in our country. But during that same year, other

plans were afoot. Most everyone |

agreed that enlarging our library was something we would have to do, eventually. But on the other hand a community convention centre might do more for economic development in our community. In November, 1988 the library

TOURISM IS GOCD BUSINESS — GENERATING DOLLARS THAT MULTIPLY AS THEY CIRCULATE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY! AS BEAUTIFUL AS THE SCENERY IS, VISITORS WILL BEST REMEMBER THE WAY THEY WERE TREATED: BY. THE FOLKS WHO LIVE HERE. JULIUS KOMLOS IS A SENIOR SAWMILL SUPERVISOR AT SKEENA CELLULOSE. ;HE GAME TO TERRACE IN 1957 AFTER LEAVING HUNGARY, JULIUS LOVES THE SPECTACULAR BEAUTY AND THE FRIENDLY PEOPLE IN THIS PLACE HE CALLS HOME.

TERR ACE & PIStRIC CHAM BEle

WILLA’ SSISTANG | 1ROM THE CiY of TTRRACE

OF C OMMERCE :

board presented the city with an official paper outlining their ex- pansion proposal and desire to go to referendum in November, 1990. The plan called for extensive reno- vations to the existing facility and the addition of about 3,800 square feet to both the main floor and basement: The cost ‘of the project

‘was estimated at $870,000, and

that has since been updated to an even $1 million.

Ten months later, however, the city announced they had purchased five acres of land behind the

. courthouse for $140,000. There

was no official statement, but it

_ was suggested that the property

might one day be the sight of a community convention centre. From this point, the city coun- cil’s main drive centred on the community convention centre. In February of this year they hired Strong Communities in the 90’s facilitator Doug Smith. Smith identified four top priority items.

One was a community convention centre but. the library expansion wasn’t on the list.

In Aprit, mayor Jack Talstra said it was the city’s intention to take the community convention centre io referendum during the Novem- ber election and the library refer- endum would have to wait until 1991... a non-election year.

In May the library board was told by a B.C, Lottery official that their grant application had been put on hold pending the 1991 referendum, and in June city coun- cil released an official $4.5 million community convention centre proposal and preliminary design drawings. There was a minor hitch,

though. The project couldn't go-

ahead, said Talstra, unless the

province kicked in one-half of the

cost. More recently, the city asked the

library board to join them, in their

convention centre project, offering to make space in the facility for a larget, newer library. This invita- tion came from a July 16 joint

meeting of the library board and city council, and a letter further outlining the proposal was received by the board a short time later. According to the letter, the con- vention centre library space would be a little smaller than the board's proposed expansion of their exist- ing ‘building but "other space"

would ‘be available and it would -

meet the needs of the library for the next 20 years.

The library board had to consider this offer at their board meeting last week. It was their first meet- ing since June, and after a lengthy discussion a sense of insecurity prevailed. The letter really only offered a vague proposal with no real promise. There were no plans, no funding commitment... and there would be no 1990 referen- dum for the community convention centre. It was too late for the city to put it on the November agenda.

And there were other concems. Does the public want the library moved? Or would they rather have it stay where it is... even without the expansion? For many people, the board feels, there is a certain nostalgia and identity with the present building. Should that be preserved as a part of the com- munity fabric or destroyed in favour of sleek new. quarters? And what are the potential problems of combining a library with a conven- tion centre? ;

There is now a suggestion that a licensed restaurant might be included in the plan. If there is even a remote possibility that the well-being of children visiting the library would be compromised by the presence of a.restaurant with a liquor licence, and at the same time a convention with hundreds of

out-of-town visitors, should such a.

move even be considered? About one-third of all library patrons are children.

George Clark couldn't attend the board meeting but he did submit a letter so that his views on the proposal could be added to the

official record. There was almost universal agreement with Clark’s views. The location of the pro- posed centre is less desirable than the location of the present library. Multiple use is not conducive to a library, and the present building is more suitable... even without an expansion.

And there was a final concern. What kind of a commitment would the board be making? What if the $4.5 million estimated cost of a community convention centre suddenly escalated to $6 million or $8 million? How would that affect the board’s involvement in the financial structure of the project?

Board chairman Willy Schneider called for a secret ballot on the city’s proposal. But that wasn’t to happen. As the board discussed the idea of integration one thing became clear. There were tco many unanswered questions. Too - may "ifs". Instead, the board has sent a letter back to the city asking for another meeting. ,

This puts the ball back in the city’s court, but council may have difficulty with a simple truth that seems to be in the process of being written into our history. The library expansion project offers security... but the community con- vention centre, at this point in time, seems only to offer uncer- tainty.

Obvioully more work is required here and while that is being done perhaps the city might want to reflect on a part of our history that - has already been written. Twenty- seven years ago, the city tried to convince the library board it would be in their best interest to integrate the library with the new city hail.

That offer was declined. For a number of reasons, the board of the day said they believed the library should be housed in build- ing of its own. That decision was delivered to city counil in person by a Mrs. Pem and a Mrs. A. Cambrin on Tuesday, Oct. coll 1963.