features

44 - DECKS AWASH
Spillway . They hope to hold the
children's annual Christmas par ­
ty in it but are held up for a permit
to bring in electricity across
the railway track . "We are sort
of on our own but we depend a lot
on Deer Lake," continues
Marilyn. "We are dependent on
Deer Lake for our wat er , ambulance
and fire brigade. We
could never afford those serv ices
ourse lves . We are working on
putting in fire hydrants but they
would cost about $4,500each and
Deer Lake says we need about 10.
Originally we were only looking
at one for our new hall . But if we
had more it would bring down our
fire insurance. Deer Lake will
give us the equipment and man ­
power to do it, but we have to pay
for the hydrants and the men 's
wages . We figure it's just as
cheap for us to hire our own men
and do it. "
BELL
CHARLES R. BELL LTD.
The people of Spillwa y appear
to value their independence. but
it's apparent they depend heavi ­
lyon Deer Lake's serv­
Ices-schools, churches , shops,
recreational facilities and water
supply . Fortunately, Spillway has
no property taxes, a lthough one
friend of Marilyn 's claims the
price advantage of building a
home at Spillway was more than
offset by first having to fiUa bog.
In the long run it might have been
cheaper to buy a home in Deer
Lake and pay taxes.
But as Marilyn has discovered .
it's difficult to carry out local im ­
provements without money , and
hard to rais e money unless you
are a council.
" We have a recreation place
but we couldn 't put in a swimming
pool unless we took on the
expen se ourselves. We'd like a
sewer system but that would cost
$1.5million and all we ca n get is
$25,000. I can 't see us forming a
council because we have a job
keeping our own service district
going. At the last elec tion four of
the origin al nine members ca me
back for a second term ."
So why does Marilyn work at
it?
"Because I've always been involved.
We have a good committee
and they get on pretty good.
I've been a Beaver leader, taught
gymnastics and been a treasurer,
And I like meeting different pe0ple.
Last year I shook Brian
Peckford's hand . I got invited to
a supper when he was running for
election , but I was n't allowed to
teU anybody . They were very
anti -Peckf ord around here , especially
the teac hers. He didn't
stay, but we had our mea l
anywa y. "
ski-doo@
BUILT FORTHELQI\JG RUN
ST. JOHN'S 722-6700
CORNER BROOK 634-3533