City waives daycare’s rental fee again
Trail Daily Times
By Raymond Masleck
October 20, 2010

A rent waiver for a non-profit day care centre will be renewed, but some members of council think it’s time the Rossland Child Care Society started paying to use the building.

Council agreed Monday to waive the $500 monthly rent for two more years after defeating a motion calling for the society to start making half payments.

When the group signed a five-year lease for the former teen centre building on Spokane Street in 2007, council waived the rent for the first three years.

This was in part because the group indicated it would have to raise funds for renovations, which have cost $175,000.

“This is certainly a worthy thing to do,” said councillor Kathy Moore. “Look at all the money they have put into that building. I’m a landlord myself, and I don’t expect my tenants to pay for these sorts of things.”

Jill Spearn ….“I have a bit of a concern about the citizens of Rossland subsidizing the rental for day care. It is a worthy service but at some point I would like to see them become more financially independent from the city.”….

Councillor Andy Stradling wondered how subsidizing the society’s rent impacts the private child-care providers in the city.

“If we subsidize one day care and another ones goes out of business, the availability of day care in this community is going to decrease.”

But councillor Kathy Wallace insisted it isn’t council’s business to inquire into the affairs of private operators.

“This is a non-profit society that provides a very beneficial and needed service to the community. The support of our young families in this community has long been one of our (priorities).”….

Mayor Greg Granstrom and councillor Hanne Smith also supported waiving the rent for two more years.