— Rumours of payment refuted —
(OSOYOOS TIMES — May 2, 2007) —
The Town of Osoyoos has squelched a rumour, fed by a World Hockey Association (WHA) internet news release, that the WHA has paid what it owes to the Town and the WHA Spurs will be back to play in Osoyoos for the 2007-08 hockey season.
In a news release early last week, Town Chief Administrative Officer Helen Koning says that contrary to a news release on the Yahoo financial website, the Town had not received any payment from the WHA and the Spurs have not been invited by the Town to come back to play in Osoyoos.
Town Council voted in early March to sue to WHA to try to recover payment of the $12,314 the hockey league owes the Town from its play in the Sun Bowl Arena during the 2006-07 season.
Now, the WHA states in an April 23 online news release that, Arrangements have been made to pay the City of Osoyoos for all past-due bills. These arrangements have been made through the Parks and Recreation Board at the Mayor's offices. This is similar to the arrangements which have been made to all the cities who are owed money by the WHA … The City of Osoyoos has invited the WHA back for the 2007-08 hockey season.rnBut Koning says, The Town requires payment in full from the WHA before Council would entertain a formal request to have a WHA team in our community … There has been no payment to the Town. There has been no formal request to the Town for consideration of a team to participate in the 2007-08 season. Council therefore has not had an opportunity to debate this.rnThe WHA owes the Town $5,102 for ice time at the Arena, $412 in charges for gas heat for the Spurs' dressing room, and $6,800 for advertising revenue in the Arena. It defaulted on its contract for failure to pay these bills.
