Buying into Controversy

Coldstream Mayor Garlick and Council went shopping next door to the muni hall.
And bought the place.

Timing appears unimportant when they're spending taxpayers' money.
A prudent purchaser--using his own funds or borrowing from a bank--would purchase a property prior to it being rezoned as Commercial.
Not this bunch.

The place is the Coldstream Women's Institute Hall at 9909 Kalamalka Lake Road, just steps away from the Coldstream Municipal Hall.


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Rumors surfaced this year that the place wasn't as inclusive in their membership as they could have been.  Rumblings that somebody's membership application wasn't approved by the executive.


Chiefly a rental hall for meetings and private events, the Women's Institute Hall is also the venue for the weekly Farmer's Market in Coldstream.  Councillor Maria Besso frequently champions the market, and the orcharding family of Coldstream councillor Richard Enns are vendors at the event that continues well into Fall.

The Morning Star newspaper did a nice historical piece on the Institute's 81st anniversary in 2012 here.

A benefactor of the District of Coldstream's permissive tax exemption bylaw (1605, 2013), the Coldstream Women's Institute pays no annual tax on land and improvements as they are a not-for-profit registered society.

"The property wasn't listed as being for sale on the market," states a realtor who wishes to remain anonymous. We both wondered if the municipality paid too much as the building is old and needs work.
The realtor continues "the assessment for the Hall was considerably lower before the property was automatically included--by this administration--in the plan for Coldstream's Town Centre rezoning."

A lot lower.
No matter...they'll just do some short-term financing through the province's finance authority (short-term financing doesn't require voter assent), and/or plunder the DCC kitty.

So now, after the rezoning has been approved by Council, Mayor Garlick and Council paid $310,00 for the Hall (plus another $10,000 for conveyancing costs).

"Maybe Council will make membership more inclusive," offers Kia, adding "since at least one or two councillors are members."

Personally, I don't care about a membership issue.
That's for the executive to decide.
I'm concerned at what the renovation costs will be.
Because Coldstream residents will pay for that too.

"Council won't like being stewards of a hall that holds events with Special Occasion liquor licenses," grins Kia.

No worries...Councillors Enns and Besso will stand guard.
Or maybe Councillor Dirk, with his paranoia concerning all things liquor related.

...Wonder who'll now constitute the Executive for the Women's Institute Hall.

One controversy traded for another?