By AlberniPortal.ca Staff

Grow Op Busted

Police found unregistered guns as well as 600 marijuana plants in a Quonset building on Franklin River Road. One man found on the property was arrested but released to appear in court on a later date. Police believe the building with its power source was established for the sole purpose of the grow operation. Dried marijuana was also seized in the search.
The police investigation continues. No names released

Trees Trimmed


Tree trimming scheduled in the Grove this coming Tuesday, the 24th. Drive BC says expect single lane traffic alternating with delays of up to 20 minutes between 8 am and 3 pm.


Lawyers Fees Set


Ha-Shilth-Sa newspaper of the Nuu chah nulth reports any lawyer charging more in fees to residential school survivors than covered by the government of Canada can be fired and the case transferred to another lawyer. The federal government pays 15 per cent of a settlement to a lawyer. Ha-Shilth-Sa reports there are lawyers who do not charge anything beyond what the government is willing to pay. Support workers are urging anyone going through the assessment process to make sure they know what the lawyer is charging before hiring one.


Clinic Model AIP


There should be an agreement on the table at the region which will see the health clinic on Elizabeth Street finally achieve some form of self ownership. At least so far that the health cooperative can borrow to upgrade city hall's building. That agreement is in principle, and more talks are coming early in the New Year when the rural areas go over budget figures. Bev Denning chairs the coop and she is not hiding her frustration at the
process running from city hall to the regional district office.

“They seem to be saying, don't go away because we don't want you to lose hope completely and give up the whole project. But, boy oh boy, the regional district directors don't want to pay, especially two of them,” said Denning.

No sale price has been negotiated. The building needs a quarter million dollars of repairs and city hall has mostly allowed it to fall into disrepair. The clinic can expand, rent offices to other agencies and have room for 7 doctors. Current capacity is 4 doctors. They do have interest from doctors looking to practice, including one Alberni man who will finish medical school next year.


City Hall’s Model


City hall's position remains the Elizabeth Street building they received free should be sold. The deal on the table would have city taxpayers give city hall a quarter of a million dollars to make the building a regional district sponsored facility. City hall wants $80,000 from the rural areas. They will assess the building again, however, before any dollar figure is set. City hall is well aware there is a quarter of a million dollars in repairs required - including a heating system - for anyone acquiring that building. Nobody else has offered them anywhere near the $381,000 that they are asking from the regional government.


Harbour Quay


Alberni Harbour Quay continues to shine in city hall's money losing tourism ventures. The quay is showing a profit of $23,000 heading into the last part of the year. That's based largely on a $25,000 cut in expenses. The quay area is budgeted to be profitable this year - about $10,000 in the money - which would be 10 per cent profit on revenue. The quay is scheduled for a million dollar upgrade over the winter and spring.


Museum and Mill


Losses at the museum reached $310,000 at the end of October, and at the McLean Mill they're showing a $318,000 loss. This is after 10 months and both expect to lose still more money through to year end. Admissions to the Mclean mill down over last year a little - $151,000, off about $4,000. Concessions are also down by about the same amount.
Lumber sales have doubled to more than $10,000.

City hall says they will pay only the first $290,000 of the mill's loss. City hall pays the entire loss at the museum. Heritage tourism for this year was budgeted to lose three quarters of a million dollars. It will lose more, but the industrial heritage society has assumed responsibility for any losses over $290,000 at the Mclean Mill.


Woodlot Licence


The school district may be next in applying for a woodlot licence. Trustee Glenn Wong made the suggestion to go along with an expanding building program in the projects school. He thinks a small woodlot of about 30,000 cubic meters would be needed
to meet their needs. The suggestion has not yet been picked up by the school board, but it does come as the forest ministry is talking about devolving more of the available timber sales into community based forests.


Fireboat Costs


Costs to refit the Harbour Chieftan have come in at just over $64,000 for city hall. It's the port authority's patrol boat but it can do double duty as a fire boat replacing the 30 year Frank Harrison which is now in need of replacement. City hall has agreed to share the costs and operate the fire fighting capability when needed but the boat will remain with the federal port to maintain and crew for routine purposes. The costs go to a vote of the council tonight.


Drinking Drivers


A trio of very drunk drivers turned into police by concerned members of the public were fined.

Scott Bradley Hyggen collided with a bus at 4th and Burde. He blew .20. He was fined a thousand dollars and had his drivers licence suspended for a year.

Brian Randall had been living in his car. The 58 year old blew .27 – more than three times the legal limit of .08. He was fined a thousand dollars his right to drive was suspended for the mandatory one year.

Kevin Schutt had two convictions in the space of a month busted twice in July of this year. The 44 year old blew .19 his second arrest and didn't provide a sample the first time. Fines total $2,500 and he will lose his driver's licence for 2 years. He now has been convicted three times for drinking and driving, the first conviction in 1990.