Barr not owner of inn
Recent inaccuracies may lead to misunderstandings regarding the old Inn at Westview [“Old hotel needs to come down says council,” August 26]. I would like to set the record straight.
First, neither I, nor my company American Investments, own the Inn at Westview. At one time, Malaspina Investments, a business in which I am a shareholder, had invested in the property along with former Mayor Arnold Carlson, but after its demise my interests were sold to current owner, Seaboard Hotels.
American Investments has an agreement with Seaboard to attempt to keep the building as secure as possible, and that is where my official interest lies. My real interest goes deeper.
It pains me as much as anyone to see the building in its current dilapidated state, as it is where I used to stay when I first started working in Powell River 30 years ago.
I have discussed options with Mayor Dave Formosa, even talking to the fire department and outside companies that could use the building’s demolition as training exercises, but to date these efforts have been unsuccessful.
I will continue to assist council in exploring any options available to reach a satisfactory resolution. However, I’m not aware of anyone who has in excess of $300,000 to cover the cost of demolition.
I appreciate suggestions from the community on rehabilitating the building for other uses, which I have forwarded on to the owner, but those are projects in the tens of millions of dollars to accomplish.
For three decades I have worked hard to promote the welfare of Powell River, its arts and its economy for the benefit of its citizens, whether in my capacity as Chamber of Commerce president, board member on Sunshine Coast Tourism association, or in my daily goal of trying to attract and keep quality retailers, good shopping and top-notch accommodations in Powell River.
I have never asked anyone to feel sorry for me, as recently suggested, and I would hope that those who have taken the time to know me over these years can attest to my hard work and commitment to this great community.
Jack Barr, Vancouver, BC
Rebane shoots back
Once again, the Powell River Archery Club (PRAC) has decided to play the victim [paid advertisement, page 19, September 23]. As a board member and past president of Powell River & District Agricultural Association (PRDAA), I have been privy to all the correspondence and claims.
PRDAA requested that PRAC close the outdoor archery range because they felt it was unsafe. We have a responsibility to the public to ensure that any user groups of those grounds use it in a safe manner. I was told that no one had been hurt yet. To me, that is using the same analogy that I haven’t killed anyone driving drunk yet. Former PRAC president Mike Gauthier admitted to me that during an outdoor shoot they had to stop because someone had walked out of the woods onto their range.
PRAC has taken it upon themselves to paint Alan Rebane, the president of Paradise Exhibition Park Society (PEPS) as “heavy-handed.” Rebane has acted completely at the direction of PEPS, PRDAA and Powell River Regional District. Rebane was only doing what he was elected by the board to do.
PRAC had insurance that was not adequate; it did not cover all the user groups as requested. PEPS board is made up of members from Powell River Therapeutic Riding Association, Powell River Trail Riders Club and PRDAA and all agreed that to continue an outdoor range was a potential hazard to the community.
PRAC was offered the use of the indoor range on a daily rental were they able to secure the proper insurance. The PRAC has never been able to produce proper insurance.
It is time PRAC stopped pointing fingers and admitted the only reason they are in this situation is due to their own inadequacies. PRAC has purchased paid advertisements to whine to the public but it is their organization that has been “heavy-handed.”
Kathy Rebane, Valley Road
Association responds
As current President of the Powell River & District Agriculture Association (PRDAA), I too am greatly saddened to hear that the Powell River Archery Club (PRAC) has decided to disband. It was my responsibility to negotiate a long-term rental agreement with PRAC and I regret that I have failed.
Certain updates to the provincial lease of the fairgrounds to the Powell River Regional District had to be reflected in the terms and conditions of all subleases and rental agreements. Quite reasonably, we are required to obtain insurance to protect not only our own membership but also our community partners (Paradise Exhibition Park Society, regional district, etc.) against any legal and financial liability that may result from our use of the property. Such insurance is expensive and has changed the face of community involvement across this country.
The archery club was made aware of this requirement earlier this year, so it could have been no surprise that our letter of offer, sent September 17, included proof of insurance as one of four requested items. The archery club promptly complied with our request to cleanup the Quonset hut in preparation for A Fall Affair, but has not contacted us since.
Despite the offer of very favourable rental rates, our request for disclosure of proof of insurance was apparently unacceptable to the archery club. In fact, their recent open letter [paid advertisement, page 19, September 23] is the only indication we have received to indicate that we will not be sitting with PRAC at the table to negotiate the details of a long-term rental agreement.
While I regret the demise of this organization and appreciate their many years of service to this community, I can only conclude that they were unable secure affordable insurance to protect themselves, Powell River Regional District, Paradise Exhibition Park Society, PRDAA and the citizens of Powell River.
Gary deCasmaker, Zilinsky Road
Proceed with caution
A bear was shot in the yard next door to me on September 16 and then dragged through some bushes and on to my property, where it had to be hauled up a three-foot ledge before it was further dragged to the front of the property on Duncan where the ambulance chasers waited. I was very distressed and appalled to find this happening on my property.
This is my fourth September living in Powell River at the same Duncan Street address and it is the first year I have actually seen a bear on my property.
Neither conservation officers nor the RCMP bothered to speak to me or the neighbour whose yard the bear was shot in. It was very strange as something, perhaps the rumoured other bear, thudded against my house as it was trying to escape just moments before a pop was heard.
While there may indeed be a larger-than-usual population of bears in town this year [“Need to feed drives bears into town,” September 23], and I can certainly understand the safety issues, people still need to be made aware of the fact that calling conservation officers is a sure death sentence for the animals.
Proceed with caution and don’t harass the animals. Rumour has it that the person that reported the bear was yelling at it and throwing things off her deck at it all morning.
I’m saddened and concerned.
Carola Goetze, Duncan Street
