FOR the second time this year, a roadblock has been set up at the YaoRun Wood Ltd. log yard on Keith Ave. by a local company saying it hasn’t been paid for work performed.
“I’m getting tired of waiting for my money,” says Vic McPherson of McPherson Trucking who placed a vehicle across one entrance to the yard on Keith Ave. “I said until I get paid I’m just going to shut this thing down. I’m just a little contractor, I can’t afford to let these guys play games like that.”
McPherson said he hasn’t been paid for four months for hauling gravel and rock for the Chinese-owned company which marshals logs in the yard for shipment to the coast and transport overseas.
This most recent action from contractors comes six months after Bryco Enterprises parked its heavy machinery in front of the same gates to protest non-payment.
In McPherson’s opinion, the road block strategy was proven effective by Bryco.
YaoRun official Richard Qi said he thinks there has been a misunderstanding, and that all parties should be paid soon by company chairman Guiying Liu.
“Last time when the yard was blocked and there was a dispute for $260,000, Mr. Lui paid that. I don’t think Mr. Lui is evading responsibility. There is just some sort of misunderstanding there.”
Qi also said that he and Mr. Lui will be coming to Terrace soon to clear up the growing confusion over the future of the yard stacked high with hemlock, cedar and spruce.
The log yard area is owned by the City of Terrace which struck a deal early this year to lease the yard to YaoRun for $120,000 a year.
In the meantime, YaoRun employees who had been using a home on the 4600 Block of McConnell as an office moved out earlier this week.
And the city has confirmed that YaoRun is two months behind on their rent payments.
UPDATE: A first version of the story says a Prince George company placed a large log across the Kenney St. entrance to the YaoRun yard. In fact, All Wood Fibre owner Leonard Legault says it is not involved in any blockade but he said he supports the effort by other contractors to be paid.
