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Judges cast votes in neighbourhood Communities in Bloom competition Strangers, equipped with pens, notebooks and an eye for detail, were seen scouring the front yards of homes citywide last week, as if they were in search of something. In fact, they were. These groups of City of Waterloo volunteers were in hot pursuit of the bestâ€" kept, most attractive, enviâ€" ronmentallyâ€"friendly garâ€" dens homeowners had to offer. Their search took them through all five of the city‘s wards, where they visited each of the designated homes, went through a list of criteria, and rated the owners‘ landscape presenâ€" tation. Though they found it difficult to choose favourites, all five groups were forced to come up with a winner in each ward. And those winners will be announced Aug. 8 as part of the City of Waterloo Communities in Bloom neighbourhood competiâ€" tion. he City of Waterloo is overlooking a key fact in its statement of claim filed against those believed to be involved in the controversial financing of RIM Park, according to a spokesman for the Clarica Life Insurance Co. B (cick hare) To Bâ€"K Motors Authorized BMW Retuider â€" 5Z7 King St. N. Wet. Tolaghone (519) 805â€"5090 Eâ€"mail inho@bâ€"komotors.com Clarica shocked, dismayed over city‘s allegations "What has to be realâ€" ized is that two separate deals took place, one between MFP and the city, and one between Clarica and MFP," said Nick Thomas, media relations manager for Clarica. "The â€"transaction in question only involves the city and MFP. Our role was only as a good faith Looking For a New By AnpreAa Bairey Chronicle Staff By AnprEa BAiley Chronicle Staff \ J "There are so many things that make each garâ€" den really different from other ones," said Sharon Carey, a 1999 ward winner who is helping judge the Ward 5 competition this year. ‘ "You have to take a look at the overall impression because everyone has a totally different idea of what they consider to be beautiful." The list of criteria for the judges to follow included categdries lookâ€" ing at the contribution each garden makes to the neighbourhood; _ design features, such as originaliâ€" ty of shape, layout, plant material, and â€" surface treatment; the owners‘ maintenance and hortiâ€" cultural practices, such as the overall cleanliness of the front yard; and special highlights or extraordinary effort, such as displaying the city‘s Environmentally Friendly _ pesticideâ€"free signs on the lawns. "Effort is important," Carey said. "Obviously we‘re looking for someâ€" thing that‘s taken more work than just a common provider of financing. __ "We were not a party to any negotiations between the city and MFP" _ _ _ Thomas said Clarica is both _ dismayed _ and appalled to be named in the city‘s statement of claim, which alleges the insurance company shares responsibility with MFP Financial _ Services _ of Mississauga for misleading the city about the terms of their financing agreement. The statement of claim calls for all defendants, including MFP, MFP viceâ€" president David Robson, Clarica and the Maritime Life Assurance Co., to rescind head lease and subâ€"lease agreements for the recreation facility. strip across the front of a house." But she said the judges also take into account what the nature around each home lends itself to in terms of creativity. "Some homes are limitâ€" ed to what esthetics the owners can use," said Cathy Dickson, a 2000 runnerâ€"up in her ward competition and another judge for this year‘s Ward 5 contest. The only disappointâ€" ment this team of judges found was that not one home in their ward disâ€" played an Environment Friendly sign. "They lose five points right there for not having a sign out," Carey said. "It doesn‘t matter if the garâ€" den is pesticideâ€"free, they have to have that sign out." But the judges were happy to see the number of homes participating in the contest, described as a prelude to the annual nationwide Communities in Bloom competition. "It‘s very satisfying to pound on the ground and watch things grow and The statement of claim also alleges fraud, deceit and fraudulent misrepreâ€" sentation on the part of MFP and Robson, in regards to the effective rate of interest and total rent payable by the city over the 30â€"year lease agreement. The city claims when the loan agreement was signed last September, it was based on the belief the deal would carry an interâ€" est rate of 4.73 per cent over three decades. In the minds of city staff members, the figure owed to the finance company should have added up to $112.9 million. A closer look at the agreement by â€" outside PAGE 3 change."_ Ca;ey sald "Gardening gives a great amount of pleasure to oneself." auditors revealed that in reality the interest rate sits at 9.25 per cent; more than doubling the total amount owed to over $227 million. Teams of volunteer judges for the City of Waterloo‘s Communities in Bloom neighbourhood competition spent last week rating gardens citywide. The winners will be announced Aug. 8. Pictured sizing up a flower garden are, from left, Sharon Carey, Cathy Dickson and Marshall Soehner. MFP then sold the debt to Clarica who, in turn, sold a portion of the deal to The Maritime Life Assurance Co. "The transaction in question only involves the%ity and MFP" Dickson said she hopes Clarica Life Insurance Co. â€" Nick Thomak media relations manager Thomas said there was having such a contest has encouraged others to jump on the beautification bandwagon. nothing unusual about the deal from Clarica‘s point of view. "We are part of the investment business," he said. "We take part in many transactions. This is just one of many." However, Thomas also pointed out that when Clarica realized the city did not appear to underâ€" stand the terms of the agreement with MFP, the company drew the city‘s attention to the deal. "We gave them a headsâ€" up," he_said. s _"And now we‘ve been cast in the shadow of MEFP" Thomas assured Clarica holds treats its business dealings with the highest "I hope it encourages Bâ€"L Motors Authorized BM Ratuiler â€" 527 King St. 1. Wat. "Tolaghone (519) 885â€"5090 Eâ€"noi info®bâ€"kmot Looking For a New more people to garden and contribute to their home, their neighbourâ€" hood and their city," she said. level integrity, and said it‘s unfair how the company has been portrayed to its staff, agents and clients. "When all of this startâ€" ed, we felt it would be betâ€" ter to let the parties (city and MFP) work things out," Thomas said. "We believed to add comment would only fuel the fires of criticism. "But being named in all of this shocked us, and now we‘ve responded in a firm manner." Thomas said Clarica will be issuing a defence against the city‘s stateâ€" ment of claim; however, the company has not yet confirmed if it will be counterâ€"suing the city over the allegations. ANDREA BALEy PHOTO