Three motions passed at the Oct. 21 Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine board meeting mark the latest efforts to create a separate and distinct identity for Thornhill from that of next-door Terrace.
One motion backs a request on behalf of long-time Thornhill resident and Thornhill sign advocate Bob Erb to the provincial transportation and infrastructure ministry for two ministry blue amenity signs.
One would be installed at the Copper River, indicating it is two kilometres to Thornhill and the second at the Thornhill Frontage Road, indicating five kilometres to Terrace. The blue signs typically contain symbols representing lodging, fuel and food services available in the community named on the sign.
A second motion, also involving Erb, calls for the regional district to obtain a permit for a Erb-financed ‘Welcome to Thornhill’ sign installed just this summer east on Hwy16, and permits for two more signs — also financed by Erb — slated for different approaches to the rural community.
That motion also calls for the regional district to reach a maintenance agreement with Erb.
The motion further states that because the new signs are to contain a representation of a grizzly bear and because grizzly bears are closely tied to the Kitselas First Nation, that the regional district receive a letter of support for the design from the Kitselas band council.
The above motions followed presentations by Erb and from Ted Ramsey, the incoming director for Thornhill on the regional district board who defeated Jeff Hammond in the Oct. 15 local government elections.
But it was also Hammond who provided the impetus for the motions via a two-page written recommendation to the regional district board to apply to the transportation ministry for permits and to strike a maintenance deal with Erb. It was Hammond who pushed for a third motion, this one asking the provincial government to rename the state of the art weigh scale and inspection station now under construction in Thornhill.
The $34.2 million station is so far being called the “Terrace Inspection Station” but Hammond wanted that changed to “Northwest Regional Regional Inspection Station or “Kitimat-Stikine Inspection Station” to better reflect the region. That motion was carried, meaning the provincial transportation ministry will be getting three letters outlining the regional district’s Thornhill wishes.
Speaking afterward, in-coming Thornhill director Ramsey said he’ll follow up on the progress of all three motions sparked by his predecessor.
“Actually, we have one, just about ready to go up,” said Ramsey of one of the two additional ‘Welcome to Terrace’ signs outlined in the regional district board motions.
In many ways, Ramsey said the renewed sign campaign is similar to ones he took part in when he was the Thornhill regional district director prior to being defeated by Hammond in the 2018 local government elections.
He’s also skeptical about the placement of a ‘Welcome to Terrace’ sign that’s just west of the roundabout but still within the Thornhill boundary. “It’s a beautiful sign. Too bad it’s in the wrong location,” said Ramsey.
As for the motion about a new name for the weigh scale station, Ramsey said he wants it named after Thornhill.
“Thornhill …. nothing but Thornhill,” he said.
Ramsey won’t be sworn in until Nov. 18 but he already has a list of priorities and one of those is the state of snow-clearing. Road maintenance in Thornhill is the responsibility of the Emil Anderson Group, the company hired by the transportation ministry, and Ramsey is convinced the company can do a better job.
“It’s not the equipment you plow it with. It’s when you plow it,” said Ramsey.
“You can plow Thornhill with a pick up …. it’s when you do it.”
Thornhill identity issues aside, Ramsey said he’ll be focussing on seniors issues such as transportation and social or recreational amenities.
He said he benefitted from a recent gathering of approximately 60 senior citizens designed to gather opinions on various issues.