[Smevo]

Sorry for another gap in posts...there are pertinent stories in this gap too that I have to go back and find, as well as stories from the first gap as well. A result of going to SJ twice a week I'm afraid. Anyway, here's the updates I'm able to give you for now.

From Wednesday, May 23, 2007 Cape Breton Post

Keddy's Motor Inn demolition finishes up

Remaining steel-framed structure may yet face wrecking ball

Section: Business

The company demolishing the former Keddy's Motor Inn has completed its work.

John MacDonald said he understands a decision may be made this week on whether the remaining steel-framed section of the building will face the wrecking ball or remain intact for potential buyers.

"From what I understand there are a couple of prospective buyers that are interested in a development there. I guess the word will be coming Friday whether they will want those units that are standing; if not, they will be going too."

MacDonald's company, John MacDonald Trucking, Birch Grove, was contracted to demolish the modular-constructed 200-room wooden section of the sprawling Kings Road multi-storey motel that closed a decade ago.

MacDonald, who is foreman for the demolition, said they finished cleaning up the three back sections of the building last week. Subsequently, the owner ordered the wings fronting Kings Road and the original motor inn, a 50-foot wide wooden section, removed.

All that is left is a steel structure with metal siding, housing the pool and a ballroom that's on the second floor. If that's to go it will involve the use of a crane, MacDonald noted.

Debris was trucked to the municipal landfill.

Council considering $112.5M budget

Tax rate unchanged; revenues will increase

Section: Cape Breton

By Chris Hayes,
Council in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality is poring over a proposed $112.5-million budget that if approved, would include additional tax revenues in spite of a freeze on residential rates.

Finance director Marie Walsh started the day-long budget session Tuesday by walking council through a proposed 2007-08 operating budget in which the total tax revenue rises to $73.9 million.

Taxpayers would contribute another $1.5 million because of assessment increases of 1.8 per cent in the total value of commercial property and 3.8 per cent in the total value of residential property.

If a residential property owner's assessment increases, so will the taxes they pay.

The municipality will also collect about $1.7 million in taxes on new commercial and residential growth and raise commercial rates to shift $2 million of the business occupancy tax which is being phased out in Nova Scotia on to the commercial tax rates.

Coun. Wes Stubbert said assessment increases, which are calculated by the provincial government, have raised the total tax revenues for the municipality by $7.6 million in three years taking 2007-08 into account.

"How long do you think homeowners can absorb that?" he asked.

Stubbert argued council should cut back on money it gives to organizations in the community, like a $1.5-million contribution to the $10-million expansion of the Cape Breton YMCA, as well as community pools, rinks, boardwalks and concerts.

"We can't afford to do it," he said in an interview outside the council chambers.

Coun. Ray Paruch was concerned by the $13 million in new borrowing in a proposed $29.3-million capital budget. Paruch said it contradicts a policy in the municipality to borrow money for projects that are cost-shared with the federal and provincial governments.

"What we are doing here now, and what we are going to continue to do . . . is to saddle the taxpayers, the children, the sons and daughters of the taxpayers of today, we are going to saddle them with huge amounts of debt," he said in an interview.

Chief administrative officer Jerry Ryan said the municipality has to borrow to do capital improvements.

The $29-million capital budget includes dollars for large cost-shared projects, improvements to the Sydney Ports Access Road, rehabilitation of collector and arterial roads and a general capital program for curb and gutter work throughout the municipality.

The budget presentation showed the municipality is receiving $16.7 million from the provincial equalization program.

Walsh told council the municipality's equalization program entitlement increased by $2 million but its actual grant is down by $956,915.

The proposed budget doesn't include money to cover training and education costs for council members. In March, council voted to rescind councillors' use of the professional development fund after a controversy surrounding tuition and hotel bills charged to the fund by Coun. Vince Hall.

Council will get back to its budget deliberations today.