LEMON:  The Mt. Brenton School was sold by the Cowichan Valley School District #79 for $650,000 to  a private entity after it had been a public asset for 50 years.

LEMONADE:  Ten years elapsed since the sale.  The buyers knew the problems of P1 institutional zoned property. The property was put on sale as part of a quick estate sale for $495,000 and eventually bought by the CVRD for $300,000

LEMON: Fear of buying an old building was induced after two attendees at a public meeting told horror stories about the Port Alberni Senior Secondary School and the Bank of Nanaimo.  The possible millions to tear down asbestos-loaded buildings (which the school was not) caused angst.

LEMONADE: This triggered studies for asbestos, air quality and water quality, which was a good thing so that we could be aware of the building status.

LEMON: The residents did not know how to evaluate the numbers and interpret what the studies actually meant to the status of the building.

LEMONADE: Interpretation by CVRD staff of the reports concluded that simple remediation and precaution could eliminate the dangers.

LEMON: A dispute developed between initial Saltair Society board members on whether to form a commission under the CVRD, like the Parks Commission, or form a non-profit society independent of the CVRD with less taxation.

LEMONADE: The Society board was cut in half and became a cohesive and directed effort to move forward with a society and operate the building as a community centre.

LEMON: Gas tax money was controlled by CVRD staff for CVRD directed projects.

LEMONADE:  A move was made to the control of gas tax money to Electoral Areas, which allowed gas tax to be used on the Saltair Centre as $130,000 for upgrades and $256,000 for the water system upgrades.

LEMON: An engineering report was done to see what would need to be done to bring the Centre up to standard.  Protestors created a petition and went door -to-door saying that it would cost $3 million to bring the Centre up to standard.  Not so,

LEMONADE:  The Society got their own estimates as to what would  need to be spent to fix the building.  The cost of the roof, the furnaces and gym renovations were seen to be much less than the engineering report, thus no rise in taxes necessary.

LEMON: A resident filed a complaint with WorkSafeBC about a leaking roof.

LEMONADE:  This changed the status of the building from a planned renovation to an emergency.  This forced the Society to do the upgrades now.

LEMON:   The CVRD was forced to honour their lease with the Society by keeping the building in safe condition.  The Society was also forced to honour their agreement with the ILM daycare. About 60 children and nine daycare staff depend on it.  Art groups have also made investments in the building as well.

LEMONADE:  The CVRD needed to speed up the upgrades. The current budget, with no rise in taxation, will allow the upgrades to proceed because the building will be paid off.  Time actually helped fix the money problem.  The $130,000 gas tax along with $31,000 reserve and a small loan will allow this to happen now.

Submitted by Area G Saltair Director Mel Dorey

UPDATE: Electoral Area Directors Regular Board Committee meeting was held November 29th, 2017 and the following resolution was approved:

SALTAIR COMMUNITY CENTRE PURCHASE.

The old Mount Brenton School sold to private interests for $650,000 years ago and then was put up for sale for $750,000 some years later. The school was the social centre of Saltair with school activities and community functions when it was operating. We were socially poorer when it closed. Then three years ago in an estate settlement with a rush to sell, it came on the market again which seemed like a great opportunity to get our social community back again from private interests. The CVRD then bought the school with five and a half acres of prime real estate for $300,000.

From the studies of psychologists and social scientists it is proven that communities with lots of opportunities for social interaction are happier communities. The more opportunities you have to meet and relate to people the happier you will be. Having a chat with someone, even a stranger, causes a release of the happy hormone called ocytocin into the bloodstream.   And it is also important to be able to walk or bike these events for a healthier body and less weight gain. Exercising releases endorphins into the bloodstream and if you walk on a natural trail you get an extra dose. Having a facility in your community is better than having one in a neighbouring community where you have to drive.

Saltair Community Society continues to successfully operate the community centre.  Income is generated from monthly rental fees received from anchor tenant Inquiring Little Minds Daycare.  The Daycare also covers a good portion of utility expenses such as electricity and heating. ILM was already in operation prior to the purchase of the property by the CVRD and have single handedly kept the interior of the classrooms and common areas in good repair. Economically, they employ up to nine staff and provide sought after daycare space for up to 60 children.  Daycare is an important service to our Community.

The Society is in the process of securing other community service oriented renters to further bolster anchor tenant income funds.  This rental income is being accrued with the intention to contribute financially to the upgrades to the building.  Various rooms are still available for social events, public meetings, educational training, Parks Commission, Advisory Planning Commission, SDRA, Elections, garden clubs, arts and crafts groups, and photography studio use.

The Saltair Community Building Condition Assessment report will be utilized to apply for applicable grant funding.  Social fund raising and donation events are also being planned to assist with future upgrade costs.

The financial contributions by taxpayers has been very reasonable and fair to date considering what they are getting. During the purchase period over five years, it is costing each family in Saltair about $40 per year which is about a half a tank of gas. There was a building assessment done by Vancouver Engineering firm that said that it would be $3,000,000 to put the building into like new condition. This is a scary number unless you analyse all the details. We don’t need to reclad the whole building with hardi plank when a good paint job would do. We don’t need new floors, windows or doors. The users will not mind the patina of age and character. We do need a good roof. There are four roofs on the building and a phased approach can be taken. One roof needs to be fixed soon and we have $130,000 of federal gas tax grants to help with that. It is hoped that the continued rate of taxation will allow the building to be used well into the future. The CVRD is drawing up a financial plan for moving forward that will be amenable to the public. We need to be patient.

Unfortunately, there is a naysayer group of about 6 who are out in the community trying to undermine the project using fear and intimidation. This is having a very negative effect on the emotional well being of Saltarians and community spirit. This is exactly the opposite of what the project was supposed to do.   We need a wait and see approach. Let the Society continue and prove that the centre is viable and needed.

Submitted by:  Mel Dorey, Area G Director, Saltair and the Islands, CVRD