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BOT proposes limited camping stays

The Greenwood Board of Trade's proposal that the city allow free camping doesn't impress motel owners who also provide RV sites.

A request by the Greenwood Board of Trade (BOT) that camping in the municipal campground be provided free of charge, that stays be limited to two or three days maximum and that signage be used to indicate the availability of alternate camping facilities within the City of Greenwood.

Councillor Lang gave council a brief history of the site. “It started as free camping until the owner of one of the motels came to council to complain that council was undercutting business,” she said. Council then instituted a rate of $5 per night. “After a lot of discussion it was raised to $10.”

But there were problems—payment was on the honour system and people were using the bushes for their bathroom. Lang said it was then decided that the city would go into partnership with a local resident who would provide some site oversight and fee collection, sharing the fees 50/50 with the city.

She said the BOT at that time was participating by supplying firewood to the campground.

Over the years the washroom at the nearby skating rink was both upgraded and then later vandalized. There is no restroom nearby at present.

BOT President Jim Nathorst sent the request to council in a letter dated Nov. 21, 2013. He wrote that the proposal would encourage visitors to stay and support local businesses. He stated that the BOT would share in the costs of the signage.

Council had considered the request at an earlier meeting by directing staff to get input from the two local motels that offer RV hookup and camping sites.

Administrator Robin Dalziel said he received one phone call and also a letter in response to his queries. Dalziel said that the BOT sees the site one way and the motel owners another, and told council he did not have a recommendation for them.

Connie and Rainer Nissen, owners of the Greenwood Motel and RV Park, wrote the letter to council in which they called the BOT proposal a “slap in the face for the owners of the existing RV parks here in Greenwood.”

The Nissens said they have no objection to use of the area as a day camping area but not overnight because there are no washroom facilities. “We have pointed out several times that the conditions around the creek are disgusting, to say it mildly, with human feces etc. in plain sight.” Attached to the council agenda package with their letter was a photograph showing the problem.

Their letter also took a poke at BOT president Jim Nathorst (co owner of the Pacific Grill) by suggesting that tourists be given free meals for a maximum of three days before they either move on or eat in one of the restaurants.

Councillor Lee Cudworth said the camping shouldn’t be free because of the cleanup required. “It’s a lousy campground, either clean it up or put a fence around it,” he said.

Noting that there are no washrooms near the campground now Councillor Lang asked who would pay to maintain them if some were put in. She also reminded her fellow councilors the history of vandalism to public washrooms.

Kettle responded by saying, “If you start charging then people are going to start wanting those services.”

Councillor Darla Ashton then proposed referring the free camping discussion to the budget meetings that are scheduled to start next month (February 21 at 9 a.m.).

“If we are going to be in the campsite business we should make it a real campsite,” said Ashton.

Council agreed to refer the issue to council’s 2014 budget setting meetings, which—Kettle reminded everyone— is an open process. “Anybody can come in and give their input.”