Draft Parks Deal for Greater Vernon -- Kate Bouey, Sun FM

Vernon mayor says everyone should pay fair share.

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It doesn't appear as if the talking is over despite a draft agreement on Greater Vernon parks and recreation. Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert says a proposal brought forward by Coldstream and Electoral Area C would see the City take over responsibility for the Rec Centre. He's not particularly happy with what could be a costly proposition. ``Personally, I believe that they should stay in, paying the same share that they have been all along,'' says the mayor. He adds that there are pros as well as cons. Lippert says on the `pro' side, the City could go ahead with work around the Rec Centre or on the Civic Arena without input from other communities. Revisions are being done to the draft which Lippert says he will then take to city council for discussion.

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Another Drowning at a Popular Beach -- Police say alcohol likely factor

Kate Bouey

9/30/2010

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A 44-year-old man from out-of-province is the latest drowning victim in Kalamalka Lake. Vernon RCMP say they were called to the dock at Kal Beach just before ten pm Wednesday night for a report of a person calling for help. Police learned that two men had been on the dock and one decided to go for a swim. When he did not resurface, the second man called for help. Police say Vernon Search and Rescue found the body of the victim in only six-to-eight feet of water. They say alcohol was a likely factor. The man was in the Valley picking fruit and indications are he may be from Newfoundland.

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Vernon water restrictions change -- Sun FM

Thu, 2010-05-20 09:35.

Local News

The stage three water restrictions for Greater Vernon residents remain in place, but there are some changes.

Mayor Wayne Lippert says the changes recognize that the Kal Lake source, which serves 75 per cent of the users is okay.

Lippert says pools can be filled from 6 a.m. till 5 p.m. because that is the lowest usage time. And those who've just laid turf will be able to get a permit to water for two weeks at a time.

And he says they're looking for three members from the public for the drought response team to help make revisions to the bylaws for next year.

Betty Selin - Vernon

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While it is true that pools can be filled and turf can be watered as reported, those changes have nothing to do with Kal Lake. Bylaw 2248 "applies to the Greater Vernon Service Area" (page 2 of the Bylaw). If Mayor Lippert did imply that the restrictions are changed due to Kal Lake being OK he did not report the facts as they are.

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Water Devolution -- By Kate Bouey, SUN FM

Thu, 2009-12-31 08:50.
Local News

Vernon's mayor has shrugged off accusations that the city wants to control Greater Vernon water. The issue of water devolution is in the hands of an arbitrator.

Mayor Wayne Lippert is hopeful the water devolution controversy can be resolved sometime in 2010. In a year-end interview with SUN-FM, Lippert also denied the issue had harmed relations with Coldstream council.

Coldstream council has provisionally budgeted 100-thousand dollars for legal fees. Lippert says the city has not budgeted any extra funds for arbitration. ($220,000 legal)

- Vernon

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Mayor Lippert seems to be overly optimistic.

I, for one, have some resentment about the fact that Coldstream Council had to budget $100,000 (about 2.5% tax increase) for the arbitration process Vernon initiated.

Every proposal Vernon introduced to date towards the resolution of the issues included total control of the utility by Vernon. Knowing Vernon’s objectives that prospect frightens me. The stated objective for Vernon is to save $3.5 million on water rates. Where would those savings come from? From Coldstream and Electoral Areas B and C residents. Should this prospect not create some harm to relationships? NORD actually allocated $300,000 for the legal fees associated with the arbitration.

Technically speaking these costs should be covered by the utility as the devolution is actually an assault on the utility as it presently exists. What is the difference, you may ask? Quite a bit.

Under the present arrangement each jurisdiction is responsible for its own legal costs covered by taxation. That means that the per capita cost for Coldstream is significantly higher than it is for Vernon. The same is true for NORD as Electoral Areas B and C also have to foot their arbitration costs. Since all water related issues to date, such as infrastructure financing, water treatment, etc. were financed through water rates it is reasonable to expect that legal costs would also be covered by water rates. That would be more equitable for all customers.

The above opinions are strictly mine and I am not speaking for the rest of Council.

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Duteau Creek Leak -- Kate Bouey

Thu, 2009-12-10 11:11.

It's been revealed that a valve leak during recent work to connect the Duteau Creek treatment plant led to two million gallons of water being spilled.

Greater Vernon water manager Al Cotsworth confirms the leak caused some contaminated water to enter the pipeline but insists it never entered the drinking system. He says it led to a major cleanup job -- four-kilometres of four-foot-wide pipes had to be disinfected --and it added about ten days to the boil water alert. Cotsworth says the project, although late, is still on budget.

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OK Indian Band Reconfirms Ownership of Road -- by Starlee Speers-Vernon 105.7 SUNFM: 8:54

The Okanagan Indian Band has issued a release stating it will take the appropriate steps to protect their reserve land from trespass and abuse.Chief Fabian Alexis says the Band has officially reconfirmed its ownership of the portion of Lakeshore Rd that crosses Priest's Valley.Alexis states the city of Vernon has betrayed that it knows little about the history or legal status of this road, as neither the Province nor city has acquired legal rights to it.He says the Band is concerned that local residents are using the road to gain access the Kin Beach where the conduct has created problems. Lakeshore road was still open for access as of this morning.

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GVS Governance dissolved -- Starlee Speers - Astral Media Radio News

Thu, 2008-06-05 08:47. Local News

There's been foreshadowing for over a year, but now Greater Vernon Services Governance has officially been dissolved.

Regional district chair Jerry Oglow says, GVS functions like Parks and Rec and Water will remain in place but will be run by committees.

Oglow says, the public will likely not even notice a difference and GVS staff will all remain in their positions.

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The inevitable finally happened. This white elephant has taken a lot on money out of our pockets for little reward. Most of the customers, outside of Vernon, got nothing for their extra money. In fact, now that it's gone we can say that it did not accomplish anything for our hard earned cash. I assume, some politicians will shed a few crocodile tears but for most of us its departure will have no impact.

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Public Speaks on Transportation Plan -- by Starlee Speers, Astral Media Radio

The focus of Tuesday nights public input session for Vernon's draft Transportation plan was on the 25 year plus option of preserving a Western bypass corridor.

Around one-hundred twenty-five people turned out for the dialogue with city council and staff. Speakers raised concerns regarding the by-pass and also brought concerns to council about lack of policing on busy, high traffic roads, air pollution and food security.

When pressed to choose an option many speakers favoured having one way traffic on 27th street and Highway 97.

Staff will now include input from the session into their final report to city council.

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Community Policing Closing -- Betty Selin, Astral Media Radio

Coldstream residents are losing their community policing office. It will close tomorrow.

Coldstream council is currently reviewing all services as part of their budget process. In a news release, the Administrator says they have decided the service doesn't meet the requirements of the District and alternate approaches for service delivery are being considered.

RCMP services out of the Vernon Detachment won't be affected and Coldstream will be asking that volunteer programs like speed watch and citizen's on patrol continue to serve the community.

The Administrator says alternate approaches for service delivery are being considered and it won't affect any of the RCMP services the community receives out of the Vernon RCMP Detachment.

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Vernon Opts Out -- Betty Selin - Astral Media Radio News

The City of Vernon has given the Ministry of Community Services half a dozen reasons why they want out of Greater Vernon Water. Mayor Wayne Lippert says until the Ministry of Community Services responds, the city expects to continue to stay involved. The city says attempts to resolve water utility issues have been dragging on for over a year and a half, and there is a lack of accountability to city water customers.Lippert says he's hopeful they'll be able to get things back on target.
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Now that Vernon got everything they wanted and the rest of the partners got nothing, they grab their ball and quit the game. Lovely!

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