Published: September 17, 2009 6:00 PM
A small light of optimism may be shed on a fight that’s ripped Greater Vernon apart.
City of Vernon officials have presented Coldstream and the two electoral areas with a proposal it claims could keep the water distribution function in one piece.
“This is an effort to keep looking at possible solutions,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert.
“This would take devolution (withdrawal) off the table.”
The city’s plan would see all voting on water and parks and recreation shift to the North Okanagan Regional District board instead of at the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee.
“There’s a lot of politics at GVAC. The same politics don’t exist at the regional district,” said Lippert.
The proposal also calls for all votes to be weighted, meaning each director would be delegated a certain number of votes based on the size of the jurisdiction they represent. With three representatives, Vernon would have the most votes.
However, Lippert denies this would give the city control.
“It would be control if we voted as a block but the Vernon representatives don’t always agree,” he said.
Issues surrounding water distribution first arose in 2006, and the city officially gave notice of withdrawal in 2006.
The city claims withdrawing from the function will not only lower rates, but increase customer accountability, improve customer service and better co-ordinate infrastructure projects.
Opposition has come from Coldstream and the electoral areas, saying water rates for their residents could soar if Vernon is not involved. But an arbitration process was recently launched so the city can leave the function.
Despite that process, though, Vernon officials say they are willing to talk with their partners.
“We have to come up with a better solution than currently sits. That’s something we can all agree on,” said Patrick Nicol, a city councillor.
Wednesday was the first chance for the other Greater Vernon jurisdictions to look at the plan.
“Thank you to Vernon for bringing it forward. It’s a positive step and we will take a look at it,” said Mike Macnabb, BX-Silver Star director.
If the plan goes ahead, it could mean increased workload at the NORD board.
“Does this board want to start sorting out Greater Vernon? Because if you do, we don’t need a (GVAC) committee,” said Doug Dirk, Coldstream councillor.
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In my opinion this is just a hollow gesture appearing to give something that if accepted would be the betrayal of my constituents.
A small light of optimism may be shed on a fight that’s ripped Greater Vernon apart.
City of Vernon officials have presented Coldstream and the two electoral areas with a proposal it claims could keep the water distribution function in one piece.
“This is an effort to keep looking at possible solutions,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert.
“This would take devolution (withdrawal) off the table.”
The city’s plan would see all voting on water and parks and recreation shift to the North Okanagan Regional District board instead of at the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee.
“There’s a lot of politics at GVAC. The same politics don’t exist at the regional district,” said Lippert.
The proposal also calls for all votes to be weighted, meaning each director would be delegated a certain number of votes based on the size of the jurisdiction they represent. With three representatives, Vernon would have the most votes.
However, Lippert denies this would give the city control.
“It would be control if we voted as a block but the Vernon representatives don’t always agree,” he said.
Issues surrounding water distribution first arose in 2006, and the city officially gave notice of withdrawal in 2006.
The city claims withdrawing from the function will not only lower rates, but increase customer accountability, improve customer service and better co-ordinate infrastructure projects.
Opposition has come from Coldstream and the electoral areas, saying water rates for their residents could soar if Vernon is not involved. But an arbitration process was recently launched so the city can leave the function.
Despite that process, though, Vernon officials say they are willing to talk with their partners.
“We have to come up with a better solution than currently sits. That’s something we can all agree on,” said Patrick Nicol, a city councillor.
Wednesday was the first chance for the other Greater Vernon jurisdictions to look at the plan.
“Thank you to Vernon for bringing it forward. It’s a positive step and we will take a look at it,” said Mike Macnabb, BX-Silver Star director.
If the plan goes ahead, it could mean increased workload at the NORD board.
“Does this board want to start sorting out Greater Vernon? Because if you do, we don’t need a (GVAC) committee,” said Doug Dirk, Coldstream councillor.
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“There’s a lot of politics at GVAC. The same politics don’t exist at the regional district,” said Lippert.If anything this proposal is a lot of politics. It would essentially be an amalgamation without a referendum. With the veighted votes the three Vernon Directors could out vote the remaining ten Directors, meaning that Vernon would have total control of everything relating to water and parks. Judging from the Mayor's ad in the Morning Star it could spell the death-knell to agriculture water rates in Coldstream and Electoral Areas "B" and "C".
“It would be control if we voted as a block but the Vernon representatives don’t always agree,” he said.Oh really? Now that committee members will collect extra wages in Vernon some Councillors will really try to please the Mayor as it is the Mayor who appoints Committee members and doles out the juicy $137 fees for each committee attended. I am sure the Mayor would require absolute loyalty in the matters of water and parks.
In my opinion this is just a hollow gesture appearing to give something that if accepted would be the betrayal of my constituents.
It is nothing but a Trojan Horse! Coldstreamer
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