
Keremeos Grist Mill operator gets renewed lease
PENTICTON – After a long wait, the present operator of the Keremeos Grist Mill Historic site can get on with the business of operating the property.
Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced a lease offering to Mathieson Heritage Services for operation of the Keremeos Grist Mill on Feb.16.
Mathieson Heritage Services has had stewardship of the Grist Mill since 2013. The province presented a further one year temporary lease as well as providing an invitation to apply for a 10 year nominal rent tenure on the historic site. The lease would take effect April 1.
The province has owned the five acre Grist Mill property since 1979, and has invested $1.35 million on the property since 2002.
“It’s great news. The strong community support we have is what tipped the balance,” said relieved Grist Mill operator Chris Mathieson on Feb.16.
Mathieson has been awaiting a decision from the province since late September last year after it issued a Request For Proposals for operating the historic site.
“We were hurt by the delay, but it’s nothing that can’t be overcome, said Mathieson, who said he was happy with the new contract.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
2 responses
-
I live near the Grist Mill and had no idea it was so wrapped up in red tape. I still don’t really know the extent of the provincial government’s involvement here, but I do agree with the other commenter on this basis. The government’s proper junction is the protection of individual rights. That means protection from those who initate force. Therefore I oppose their owning heritage sites, running radio stations, and just about every other thing they do with our money.
-
What a waste of tax dollars, for a select few dingbats.wafw!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.