| take run at | NV windmil! Catherine Barr Contributing Writer RODNEY Phelps’ windmill is a monument to success, health and friendship. Bur the 25-foot (7.6 m) structure may have to be disman- tled if neighbours don’t agree to let it stand. Phelps and his friend Charles Brook met during a karate class. Theirs is a special relationship. Phelps, who is mentally challenged, lives in a group home in North Vancouver. Brook is a successful businessman and devel- opment planner. Working together at the Champions Karate Academy, the two men realized they had many interests in common, So when Phelps asked Brook to-help him with his windmill project, Brook readily agreed. Together the men erected the windmill in the baczyard of ‘Phelps’ Mahon Avenue residence. “Recognizing Rodney’s accomplishment in completing this windzaill and the pride and interest he took in it, | volunteered to help him put it up in the backyard of the group home,” said Brook. But the windmill has attracted some unwanted a:tention from neighbours and now its future may be int jeopardy. On Monday, Brook appeared before North Vancouver City council to plead Phelps’ case. “Karate and this windmill are very important to him,” Brook told council. “Please, allow it to stand as a symbol of one of Rodney's special accomplishments.” Unfortunately, the current city bylaw only allows structure of up to six feet to be erected at a residence. The bylaw exists for various reasons, but is used primarily to help the city regu- late structures like satellite dishes, housing additions, and . fences. Flagpoles, smoke stacks, radio and television antennae, util- ity poles and posts are exempt. The bylaw makes no reference to windmills, Still, council was sympathetic to the issue and has agreed to survey the neighbours. If they like it, and city staff says it’s structurally sound, then Phelps might be able to keep his pro-" ‘ject. Otherwise, it will have to be, removed. Meanwhile, Brook has offered to pay for any structural drawings that may be needed along with any “letters of assur- ce.” Brook conceded that:“ignorance of the law” is no excuse and ‘said he watts to do his best to ensure everyone is happy. : But he said he hoped council would make a “special exception” this case. Brook ‘also said that he. and Phelps would be willing to i reduce the windmill’s height to satisfy the neighbours, but ‘added that it must still be high enough to catch the wind. ‘He said lowering it to six feet would be equal to dismantling it entircly., throughout the country tend 0.involve smaller administra- c structures.. Harber “became CEO of the health siregion last fall: : Rid: Meanwhile. CEO: ofthe North Shore Health «Region, Inge 3 Schamborzk, launched 3 law- ésuit: last month asking for ‘another’10 months of salary or $129,000 as severance. at’ Schamiborzki, . a West ‘Vancouver ‘resident, has Healready received $180,800 or the equivalent of 14 months fa salary from the health ‘egion since she was terminat- d on March 2, 1998. ’ According to health board ‘financial information, -Schamborzki: earned a salary FOF $160,724.79 sad racked Fe up $24,964.53 worth of syexpenscs “for a total of $185,689.32 during the last year. of -her employment. Schamborzki has not..found © work ‘since she was terminat- n the budget year. ending ; March 1998, the, health cgion ‘paid $99,454,000 in ies. : 7 the former '; «Ata meeting Tuesday night, the school: district to broach the supject of funding for crossing : heiyht. Cail f ef t's North Vancouver group hom RODNEY Phelps in front of the 25-foot windmill he helped build in the backyard a. Neighbours have objected tc the structure's North Van school board seeks NVD participation Katharine Hamer . Contributing Writer : ‘. NORTH Vancouver Schoo! District is . backing the hiring of adult crossing guards in some locations in North Vancouver District. pledged guards with North Vancouver District. School superintendent Dr. Robin Brayne issued 2 report which advocated the installation of adult cross- ing guards at “warranted” (in other words, ‘traffic- heavy) locations throughout the district. The school district docs not currently receive fund- ing to support adult crossing guards at these locations from the Ministry of Education or North Vancouver District. 7 = After the entire board of school trustces was let go for running a deficit in 1996 and replaced by provin- cially-appointed trustee Bob Smith, the crossing guard program became a victim of school district funding cuts to the tune of $150,000. : North Vancouver City kicked in its own moncy to "pay for guards at the six most dangerous crossings in its jurisdiction. North Vancouver District, however, said it couldn’t afford to do the same. . Adult crossing, guards in the city are paid $12.84 ~ per hour. ICBC donated ‘money to the pro m On a one- time only basis for the 1998-99 school year. It did not contribute to the crossing guard program this year. ; “mentary on Sept. 13. “They That’s why crossing guards are needed.” * would ‘take the dea BCAA-trained student crossing guards have been put in place this year at selected schools — but the con- seizure Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter dangclo@nsnews.com MORE than 100,000 cans of sockeye salmon seized from a North Vancouver cannery in March have led to a federal Fisheries Act charge being laid against a Cheam native band member. Anthony Warren Alex, 46, of Rosedale, was charged on Tuesday with attempting to sell salmon that was not caught with a commercial fishing licence. The charge is a federal Fisheries Act offence and car- ries a maximum $100,000 fine. ‘ Alex is slated for a first appearance on Oct. 6. in North Vancouver provincial court. : Fisheries and Oceans staff seized the sockeye salmon in March from the: Great Northern Packing Plant at 20 Orwell St. under the Second Narrows Bridge. More than 2,000 cases of salmon worth between $300,000 and $400,000 were scized from the North Vancouver plant, ‘according to. Fisheries and’ Oceans Canada Fisheries’ and: Oceans , Canada: spokesman. Herb Redckopp said the seizure —_— : was the largest ever relating NEWS Julie iverson | to native-caught.. canned ~~ salmon. °. oe oe cept of children supervising children at busy intersec- ~. tions has met with some concern despite the existence _- of road safety education programs in schools, . “Children’s minds detach themselves,” said Kysandra Harris, whose 10-year-old son Elias Brunt _. was struck by a car at a crossing, near Lynn Valley ele- _- Elias sustained severe Jeg injuries in the accident, asid remains in a wheelchair :vith a cast. F “Everyone P’ve spoken to, including (RCMP inves- they're ‘invincible, © tigating officer) Constable Tait and (school district” chairman) Doug MacKay-Dunn agrees that if there’ had -been a crossing guard in place (Elias’ accident) - would never have happened. My biggest fear is that it of a chil thing,” Harris said. ©: . She also felt that volunteers could not be relied upon: “Volunteers are great until bad weather hits or they have other commitments... and there’s the liabili- ty issue.” ; r before they did any- : “In his report, Brayne recommended that the costs |. of the adult crossing guard program “be borne by each - of the two municipalities, the school district, and the. _ police.” “I'm encouraged by the actions (the school district) are taking,” said Harris. “The city’s made a commit- j ment to the program, the RCMP have made a com- mitment to the program — that’stwo out of three players. The school district is finally saying, ‘there’s an -- to” urgency to the matter. Let’s not bandy it around. North Vancouver District has nor yet responded to the new proposals. . . _KYSANDRA Harris speaks to reporters fo lowing Tuesday's school board meeting.