Town of Oliver’s council has now approved a “new” lease on life for the Oliver and District Heritage Society by providing a 20 year – $1 a year – lease arrangement on town property (including Archives and Museum buildings). The deal struck calls for routine maintenance to be done by the Society formerly done by the landlord.
Council will also pay for a new heating and air conditioning system for the 1924 dated BC Police building where the museum exhibits are currently stored and displayed.
The Heritage Society is a joint function of the RDOS (Area C and Town of Oliver). The $1 year lease could amount to a subsidy of a $250 thousand over the life of the lease.
Insurance will be covered by the town through its insurer but paid for by the Society.
Jack, you are correct in how I viewed the lease as a subsidy. It should also be kept in mind that the town put approx. half of the rent back into building repairs. This means that council will no longer have a net benefit of about $6500/yr.for the next 20 years. This money will have to come out of another area (other services) or a small increase in revenue(taxes).It will be up to council to decide how to make this up at next years budget deliberations. It is self evident the advantage is to the society and the other funding partner, thru lower cost. I respect the decision of council and see the benefit of heritage in our community.
Hello Jack
I have to disagree with your comment that the proposed twenty year lease of the old B.C. Police property to the Oliver and District Heritage Society could amount to a subsidy to $250,000 to the Heritage Society.
It was the Heritage Society that initiated and pursued the process of having the Provincial government give up title to this property. When the Provincial Government did transfer title to the Town, they specified that they were only doing so on the condition that the property is used for heritage purposes. My understanding is that if the Town attempts to use it for other purposes, the property reverts back to the Crown. One way of interpreting it is that in effect, the Town is holding the property in trust, for the Oliver and District Heritage Society. It should not be considered a Town asset that can be exploited for market value. It was never considered at the time of the original transfer, that the lease payment paid by the Heritage Society would be anything more than a nominal sum.
The Town and the Oliver and District Heritage Society have been good partners in the past, and I am happy to see that process continuing with the approval of the twenty year lease.
Publisher: Larry – in some ways I wish Councillor Mattes could answer you as it was his comment at the AGM that brought this matter to the attention of the society. You would agree the properties are held in the name of the Town and that rent has been charged. In 2011 $12628 was paid by the society to the landlord for the archives building and the museum. If you multiply this figure by 20 you arrive at a sum of $252,560. This is a fact not a comment. The deal is a good one – it means the society will use its funds (from various sources) on improvements and maintenance and will pay no rent. The advantage to the Town is self evident.