North Coast BC Online social network
Share photos & videos, meet new people, discuss regional topics
Terrace - Thornhill amalgamation
I am a life-long resident of the Terrace area, lived in Thornhill for the past 30+ years and a Thornhill property owner for the past 16 years. I’d like to start a discussion about a subject that comes up just about every municipal/regional district election: Should Terrace & Thornhill amalgamate? Or should Thornhill incorporate? Or should the status quo remain?
Here’s my opinion,
As a little background for readers not familiar with the subject:
Thornhill is currently an unincorporated area on the east side of the Skeena River across from Terrace. Thornhill services are currently administered by the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine (administers regions such as rural Terrace [Lakelse Lake, Usk, Jackpine Flats, etc.], Hazeltons area, Telegraph Creek, Iskut, Dease Lake, Bob Quinn Lake, Moricetown, Cedarvale, Kitwanga – sorry if I left out anyone).
As a Thornhill property owner, I pay taxes that support services provided in Terrace – Northwest & Kitimat Stikine Hospitals (Mills Memorial/ambulance service), Terrace Public Library, Terrace Leisure Services (ice arena/swimming pool, etc.), cemeteries, police, transit & street lighting. We are also taxed for our Regional District services: Thornhill volunteer fire department, dog control, community centre, Thornhill park & recreation, Regional District admin, Thornhill dump. Next year I will also be paying taxes on the water system as Regional District has taken ownership of the Woodlands Utilities. Most Thornhill residents currently have septic tanks, not a sewer system (it’s on the Regional District list of wanted projects). The exception being a small part of Queensway Drive which a few years ago was having problems with septics located in high water tables. Our roads are maintained by the Ministry of Transportation (currently subbed to Nechako Northcoast Road Maintenance). Garbage – individually we are responsible, whether we hire Waste Management to haul it to the Thornhill dump, or take it there ourselves. Thornhill residents can vote for Regional District & school board trustees, but we can’t vote for City of Terrace mayor or councillors.
As for my tax values – well, I own an older mobile home on a piece of land in Woodland Heights in Thornhill, my property value is lower compared to a similar lot in the greater Terrace area. That’s part of the reality of real estate isn’t it? The closer to the downtown core, the higher your lot value. Development of lots in the upper Thornhill area has slowed in big part due to the limitations of the Woodlands water system. Now that Regional District has taken ownership, plans are underway to expand the system and have already started work ( I have a new fire hydrant one lot away, the next closest was 6 lots away). As for lack of commercial/industrial development in the lower Thornhill area… I imagine that the factors are lack of sewer, and the big one right now – lack of demand.
Back to the discussion. There was a referendum several years ago asking Terrace/Thornhill residents if they wanted to amalgamate. The answer was no. Why? The usual answer was what was in it for them (meaning either resident? Or only Thornhill residents?)
There are some residents that like the status quo. My understanding is that once Thornhill starts to grow again, that will not be an option because it will be too big for Regional District to operate.
Some residents would like to see Thornhill incorporated – with it’s own government & services that would come with that. Does it make sense? What would those services be? A town hall, another ambulance station? (not likely as calls are dispatched through the BC interior call centre). Another police station? (again no, they are also dispatched through Prince George & the province handles how many staff for the entire area). We’ve got a fire department. A sewer system for lower/upper Thornhill/Queensway? Would incorporating bring it into service faster than Regional District? A hospital? Terrace already has problems enticing medical staff to move to the area… A rec centre? Do we need another one across the river?
What would we gain by incorporating?
Then there’s the option of amalgamating. With the current state of the economy, I imagine there are quite a few Thornhill residents that see it as just a tax grab by the City of Terrace. After all, we already have access to the Terrace services (hence why change the status quo). I’m no expert when it comes to economics, but if Terrace & Thornhill were to amalgamate, would that make the area any more appealing to new businesses? Terrace & Thornhill residents work in Terrace/Thornhill area as well as Kitimat so it’s really not an issue of workforce location. Kitimat, Hazeltons, Nass Valley (and Prince Rupert) residents often come and shop in Terrace so it’s not so much of an issue of consumers (just the entire population size). I don’t believe that amalgamation will cause a “boomtown” scenario like we see in the Vancouver area or the Okanagan Valley. And I don’t believe our property taxes will skyrocket. Would amalgamation increase our community service options? Help at all with development?
(By the way, I’m curious, the airport lands – are they part of the City of Terrace or Regional District?)
While I don’t have all the facts, I lean toward amalgamation. I may be a Thornhill resident, but I’m also a Terrace resident and don’t have an ego effect that separates me as Thornhill versus Terrace.
What is your opinion on the subject?
Here’s my opinion,
As a little background for readers not familiar with the subject:
Thornhill is currently an unincorporated area on the east side of the Skeena River across from Terrace. Thornhill services are currently administered by the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine (administers regions such as rural Terrace [Lakelse Lake, Usk, Jackpine Flats, etc.], Hazeltons area, Telegraph Creek, Iskut, Dease Lake, Bob Quinn Lake, Moricetown, Cedarvale, Kitwanga – sorry if I left out anyone).
As a Thornhill property owner, I pay taxes that support services provided in Terrace – Northwest & Kitimat Stikine Hospitals (Mills Memorial/ambulance service), Terrace Public Library, Terrace Leisure Services (ice arena/swimming pool, etc.), cemeteries, police, transit & street lighting. We are also taxed for our Regional District services: Thornhill volunteer fire department, dog control, community centre, Thornhill park & recreation, Regional District admin, Thornhill dump. Next year I will also be paying taxes on the water system as Regional District has taken ownership of the Woodlands Utilities. Most Thornhill residents currently have septic tanks, not a sewer system (it’s on the Regional District list of wanted projects). The exception being a small part of Queensway Drive which a few years ago was having problems with septics located in high water tables. Our roads are maintained by the Ministry of Transportation (currently subbed to Nechako Northcoast Road Maintenance). Garbage – individually we are responsible, whether we hire Waste Management to haul it to the Thornhill dump, or take it there ourselves. Thornhill residents can vote for Regional District & school board trustees, but we can’t vote for City of Terrace mayor or councillors.
As for my tax values – well, I own an older mobile home on a piece of land in Woodland Heights in Thornhill, my property value is lower compared to a similar lot in the greater Terrace area. That’s part of the reality of real estate isn’t it? The closer to the downtown core, the higher your lot value. Development of lots in the upper Thornhill area has slowed in big part due to the limitations of the Woodlands water system. Now that Regional District has taken ownership, plans are underway to expand the system and have already started work ( I have a new fire hydrant one lot away, the next closest was 6 lots away). As for lack of commercial/industrial development in the lower Thornhill area… I imagine that the factors are lack of sewer, and the big one right now – lack of demand.
Back to the discussion. There was a referendum several years ago asking Terrace/Thornhill residents if they wanted to amalgamate. The answer was no. Why? The usual answer was what was in it for them (meaning either resident? Or only Thornhill residents?)
There are some residents that like the status quo. My understanding is that once Thornhill starts to grow again, that will not be an option because it will be too big for Regional District to operate.
Some residents would like to see Thornhill incorporated – with it’s own government & services that would come with that. Does it make sense? What would those services be? A town hall, another ambulance station? (not likely as calls are dispatched through the BC interior call centre). Another police station? (again no, they are also dispatched through Prince George & the province handles how many staff for the entire area). We’ve got a fire department. A sewer system for lower/upper Thornhill/Queensway? Would incorporating bring it into service faster than Regional District? A hospital? Terrace already has problems enticing medical staff to move to the area… A rec centre? Do we need another one across the river?
What would we gain by incorporating?
Then there’s the option of amalgamating. With the current state of the economy, I imagine there are quite a few Thornhill residents that see it as just a tax grab by the City of Terrace. After all, we already have access to the Terrace services (hence why change the status quo). I’m no expert when it comes to economics, but if Terrace & Thornhill were to amalgamate, would that make the area any more appealing to new businesses? Terrace & Thornhill residents work in Terrace/Thornhill area as well as Kitimat so it’s really not an issue of workforce location. Kitimat, Hazeltons, Nass Valley (and Prince Rupert) residents often come and shop in Terrace so it’s not so much of an issue of consumers (just the entire population size). I don’t believe that amalgamation will cause a “boomtown” scenario like we see in the Vancouver area or the Okanagan Valley. And I don’t believe our property taxes will skyrocket. Would amalgamation increase our community service options? Help at all with development?
(By the way, I’m curious, the airport lands – are they part of the City of Terrace or Regional District?)
While I don’t have all the facts, I lean toward amalgamation. I may be a Thornhill resident, but I’m also a Terrace resident and don’t have an ego effect that separates me as Thornhill versus Terrace.
What is your opinion on the subject?
About
Add This Website
Badge
© 2009 Created by SuzyQBC on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
