Library tenants seek lease agreements
The municipality deferred rental payments from Jasper Habitat for the Arts until it can come up with a lease that is agreeable for both parties.
Earlier this month, the arts organization requested 12 months rent free, citing the library and cultural centre’s persistent delays as the cause of its financial difficulties. Council voted Sept. 15 to defer the organization’s rent—with interest—until a deal can be worked out between the two parties for a lease.
The Jasper Artist Guild also requested a rental grace period, asking for eight months rent free, but in a Sept. 14 letter it declined the municipality’s offer to defer its rental payments, suggesting that won’t solve the guild’s problem.
Rather, JAG is requesting the first month rent-free and the next five months at a reduced rate. It is also asking for a five-year lease, with the option to renew for a further five years.
“We are looking for a recipe for success,” wrote Claude Boocock, vice-chair of JAG, “and [we] feel that paying full rent upon moving into the new facility will not achieve this.
“The library and cultural centre will be ready to move in, but what else is in place to bring our residents and visitors to the facility? It is now mid-September, and a lease agreement has yet to be entered upon, which means that JAG has no guarantee, and therefore cannot order necessary fixtures and materials to hang artwork.”
The library and culture centre has been plagued with construction delays since the shovel hit the ground in 2011 and is now nearly three years overdue. The last completion date cited by the municipality was Oct. 2, just one week from now. It is still unknown when the building’s tenants will be allowed to move in.
Avalanche Esso closed for renovations
The Avalanche Esso gas station and convenience store will be closed for the next month as it undergoes a full renovation. It is scheduled to reopen before the end of October.
Improvements include the addition of diesel and a small Tim Hortons self-serve kiosk, said Jeremy Journault, owner of the gas station.
Avalanche Spirits, the liquor store next door, will remain open during construction, but access will be restricted to the alleyway behind the store.
Journault said he expects the convenience store to reopen Oct. 16 and the gas station to resume operations about a week later.
The gas station is the only service centre in town that is open 24 hours a day. Petro Canada at 701 Connaught Dr. is open from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. seven days a week. The other Petro Canada, at 300 Connaught Dr., is open from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Both offer diesel.
Hinton to host all candidates forum
For those unable to attend the all-candidates forum in Jasper on Oct. 5, Hinton will be hosting a similar event Sept. 28.
The event will be held at the Hinton Royal Canadian Legion at 7 p.m.
More information about the Jasper forum can be found on the back of this week's issue.
