Granite Club : not getting special tax break, mayor says e move to give the Granite Club property taxâ€"free status through a licencing agreement for Rink in the Park is the same deal that all the parties interested in the Waterloo Park property would have received, says the Mayor and city staff. "It hasn‘t been our practice with Rink in the Park to collect taxes," said Mayor Lynne Woolstencroft. "It was something being offered to every other proposal â€" it was identical." Brian Detzler, the head of recreation and leisure services, said it was the same property taxâ€"free status that the Kâ€"W Skating Club enjoyed previously. The dormant controversy over Rink in the Park bubbled up again last week at a special council meeting to approve a licencing agreement with the Athletic Association of Kitchener Waterloo Limitâ€" ed, also known as the Granite Club. The Granite Club was chosen by city council in April to take over the facility vacated by the Kâ€"W Skating Club when it moved to RIM Park. "That would be the case for whoever we ended up negotiating with," he said. As chair of finance he wondered why the city would lease out a building for $40,000 gross and net out only $10,000 after expenses on a property with an appraised value of $2.3 million. "That would give us a return of less than 0.5 pe‘ cent," said Taylor. However, the only councillor to vote against that approval, Morty Taylor, said the city is unduly favouring the curling club by coming up with a way for it to avoid paying property taxes when the club takes over Aug. 3. The city would take another whammy at tax time, forgoing about $69,000 in property taxes in the licencing agreeâ€" ment. That agreement is for eight years, with the curling club paying $40,000 a year in payments for the first five years, and $45,000 for the final three years. "To my mind this was a lease as was originally contemplated and drafted," said Taylor. "So what we‘re doing is essenâ€" WATERLOO CHRONICLE By BOB VRBANAC Chronicle Staff wATerLOD PUBLIC LIBRARY Continued on page 2 WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 2003 + WATERLOO, ONTARIO Joanna Lang (right) and Kathleen Lefaive (left) heiped serve tea Sunday afternoon at Woodside Historic Site Victorianâ€"style "Summer Teas" are offered at the site Thursday afternoons. The next Sunday afternoon tea will be held Aug. 17. Preâ€"registration is required. The cost is $8 per person. Call 571â€"5684 for details. Serving your community since 1856 I34, anyun3*? EETHATR! $1 INCLUDING GST DEBORAH CRANDALL PeOTO WATERLOO PuBiic LIRRARY Tgien *" *13 495 The all The Waterloo Hallman Junior Twins host the Nationals. Saturn ION Viewpoint You said it Studentâ€"teacher bond changed organist‘s life. Classified 24 Lifestyle Saturn of Kitchener Wateroo 663 Victonia St. N. 744â€"5811 WHAT‘S INSIDE Page 19 Page 16 10