City council decided it would need more information on a local businessman Bob Smith’s proposal before it could support a casino in Grand Forks.

At last week’s council meeting, members decided to write a letter to Smith asking him to provide more information.

“If Mr. Smith wants to go and do some homework on it and come back with a concrete proposal that council could give consideration to, then I would be prepared to look at his information,” said Coun. Christine Thompson.

Councillors also suggested the issue should go to referendum before council puts its support behind it.

“I’m not comfortable supporting this and if any discussion comes forward on this, I would really recommend going straight to referendum, and let the citizens of the community decide it,” said Coun. Gene Robert. “I think this is beyond council’s scope.”

Councillor’s Thompson and Joy Davies said they’ve only received negative comments about the possibility of having a casino in Grand Forks from the public.

However, Coun. Cher Wyers said she hadn’t heard complaints.

“The only comment I’ve heard is, well, the buses fill up leaving the community (to visit out-of-town casinos), so why not,” she said.

However, she also supported going to referendum rather than letting council decide.

Coun. Chris Moslin said he felt the project was too big for Grand Forks.

“I couldn’t see how a community like ours, just over 4,000, would have the population to be able to build and operate and support a casino,” he said.

Mayor Brian Taylor, who previously said he would not support a referendum on the issue, was absent.

Garbage service

Grand Forks City Council approved a one-year extension of its garbage collection contract with Alpine Disposal at its meeting last week.

The cost of the service, $115,008, includes an increase of $8,500 which will be covered by a rate increase of $1 per month, per household.

The current contract is due to expire at the end of June.

Coun. Chris Moslin said the city is continuing to review how it delivers its garbage service to see if any improvements can be made.

“I know we have certain goals and objectives that we are trying to achieve,” he said. “Change is still destined for the garbage service. In a year from now, we’re going to be asked to have a plan in place to take us forward for several years.”

Last year, a plan to purchase a truck and colour-coded bins and operate a collection service in house failed due to public opposition.

Homeless shelter at Hardy View Lodge

City council received a petition signed by 32 neighbours of the old Hardy View Lodge asking council to reconsider its support of an emergency homeless shelter in the area.

The residents argued that the facility does not belong in a residential neighbourhood due to safety concerns.

Coun. Gene Robert, a member of the Public Safety Committee which is overseeing the initiative, said nothing has changed from the Feb. 22 council meeting at which time he reported that there was a feasibility study underway, but no commitments had been made by B.C. Housing.

“I really have no new information,” he said. “It’s in a holding pattern.”

However, he said he would bring the neighbours’ letter and petition to the next Public Safety Committee meeting.

Notice of Motions

Two notices of motion were put forward at last week’s council meeting. Coun. Chris Moslin said he would like to change the location of the City Park dog park from the north end to the south end of the park, south of the paved walking path.

Coun. Joy Davies said she would bring a motion forward making it harder for residents to prompt a bylaw infraction investigation. Right now, the city will investigate bylaw complaints about noise and “unsightly premises” based on a single complaint.

“I don’t think it’s fair that we have to spend council time only because one person has a complaint against another neighbour,” she said. “We don’t know if there’s personal issues involved and I don’t want to be part of that.”

More detailed motions will come forward at future meetings.