Powell River Regional District’s board will hold a special meeting to discuss the lease with Paradise Exhibition Park Society (PEPS).
The meeting will be held on Monday, June 22, with Al Radke, chief administrative officer (CAO), to report on PEPS and his recommendation regarding the lease.
During the regional board’s committee of the whole meeting, Thursday, June 11, Director Stan Gisborne, within whose area the exhibition park is located, said directors were expecting a report.
“The issue of the PEPS lease has been going on far too long,” he said. “We’ve got to deal with it. When can we expect a staff report?”
Committee Chair Colin Palmer said the matter of the lease could go off the rails quickly. He said they are working with volunteers and “this thing is getting scary.
“I just want to be sure that not only are we satisfied with what’s going on, but also the exhibition parks society, who are volunteers,” said Palmer. “I’m getting a bit concerned because we are getting letters from lawyers and we are getting letters from people who should be reporting to the society. It’s getting very confusing and it shouldn’t be.”
Addressing Radke, Palmer asked for an assurance that when a special meeting is held, the report will outline what the issues are and what the recommendations are for the head lease with the province.
“Your report will also include recommendations or information on what we then deal with with PEPS,” Palmer said.
He wanted to know who has met with PEPS. Radke said that he, Mike Wall, manager of community services, and Gisborne had met with the PEPS president on March 13.
Palmer said his fear was that the society’s volunteers could go home, leaving the regional district with the park and the whole operation.
“We’ve got to try and figure out how we can encourage them to carry on with the good work that they do without us getting involved in their business, other than the fact that they should respect the head lease.”
Patrick Brabazon, Electoral Area A director and chair of the board, said Palmer was trying to write the report for the CAO.
Palmer said he was asking questions because there is a serious problem developing.
Brabazon said there will be a report and the matter will be dealt with in due time.
Palmer said he wants to know what is happening with the report for the simple reason that he’s not happy, and he thought the committee should not be happy with the fact there are a number of very upset people.
“If we don’t get it right as to how this report is coming to us, and who has been involved, then we should double check on it.”
Palmer asked Gisborne if he was satisfied with what is going on.
Gisborne said PEPS has looked at the draft lease and they will be presenting changes back to the committee.
Brabazon said the CAO is going to submit a report and it is incumbent upon the committee to wait for the report and deal with what is in front of them.
Gisborne said the regional district has to pass this lease. There are a number of legal and liability issues involved.
Palmer said when he sees lawyers’ letters flying around he starts to become worried. “It shouldn’t be happening but it is.”
