coldstreamer@shaw.ca******* Issues related to the District of Coldstream, local government issues, political commentary, local area photos,oddities in the news etc....
The sports complex debate is back on Greater Vernon’s agenda.Corner added, though, that an outstanding issue is finding large chunks of property not in the Agricultural Land Reserve. One site that has been suggested by some residents is farm land just to the north of the Multiplex and Kin Race Track.
Earlier this month, the City of Vernon requested that GVSC hold a meeting with it to discuss sports facilities in the area. No date has been set for that meeting, but Corner is open to pursuing the matter with the city. “We will certainly talk to the city and the city has three representatives at this committee,” he said. Vernon city council will also meet internally to discuss land issues regarding potential sites for new fields.
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Hopefully, this time they might take into consideration input from the general taxpayer who will ultimately pay for the play.
A note of interest: in the late 1980's I have studied the genetic basis of spruce weevil resistance and reported in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research (1991). At that time it was difficult to convince my peers of such genetic control. (The Eagle)Assoc. Prof. Joerg Bohlmann says this genetic analysis will allow forest stewardship programs to reinforce a forest’s inherent strength, breeding trees that could in time repel insects such as British Columbia’s notorious mountain pine beetles.
Bohlmann and his research associate Christopher Keeling explored the genetic makeup of oleoresin within spruce, discovering a sophisticated ability to produce complex blends of chemicals that continuously evolve to protect the tree from changing conditions and challenges.
“Conifers are some of the oldest and longest living plants on the planet,” says Bohlmann. “We’ve opened the book to understanding how they can survive in one location for thousands of years despite attacks from generations of insects and diseases.”
Their study examines the molecular biochemistry of conifers interacting with genomes of bark beetles and bark beetle-associated fungal pathogens. Bohlmann’s study appears in today’s edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
“Figuring out how these naturally occurring defenses work has important implications for the long-term sustainability and health of our forests,” says Bohlmann, who’s working with the B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range, the forestry industry and the Canadian Forest Service.
Bohlmann is also co-leader of the recently announced $4-million project that Genome BC and Genome Alberta is funding to investigate the mountain pine beetle infestation at the genomic level.
Insect pests and pathogens cause annual losses of billions of dollars to conifer-based forest economies in North America and Europe. In B.C., the mountain pine beetle epidemic has killed about 40 per cent of the pine forests since its first appearance in the mid 1990s.
This is the largest recorded bark beetle outbreak in Canada, leaving B.C. with 13 million hectares of grey and red dead pine – an area four times the size of Vancouver Island and a volume of dead timber equivalent to 530 million telephone poles.
Bohlmann is leading UBC’s and international research programs on forest health genomics. In 2006, Bohlmann and a team of international scientists completed the world’s first physical map and sequencing of a tree genome – the third plant ever sequenced.
He is based at UBC’s Michael Smith Laboratories, a multidisciplinary research facility. Bohlmann also holds teaching appointments in the departments of Botany and Forest Sciences and is an associate at UBC’s Wine Research Centre.
Bohlmann and study co-authors are members of the Treenomix project, Canada’s first large-scale forestry genome project. Their work received support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Genome BC and Genome Canada.
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Bryant Gronemeyer, 12, has gone from critical to fair condition at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.
“His vital signs are stable and in normal limits,” said Lubna Ekramoddoullah, a communications specialist with the hospital.
He has also resumed consciousness.
“The indicators are favourable. His doctor says he is continuously improving,” said Ekramoddoullah.
Gronemeyer, a Grade 7 student from Harwood Elementary, was injured while taking part in a school field trip to Silver Star Mountain Resort Jan. 17.
He was preparing to get off the midway station on the Summit chairlift when his helmet strap got caught on the chairlift. That resulted in some choking occurring.
Gronemeyer was treated on the mountain, transported by ambulance to Vernon Jubilee Hospital and then transferred to Vancouver.
Ekramoddoullah believes Gronemeyer’s parents are handling the situation as well as can be expected.
“They are doing much better because of the improved conditions,” she said.
Silver Star and the B.C. Safety Authority are investigating the accident, as is the Vernon School District’s insurance firm.
The Summit chairlift is open but the midway station is closed during the investigation.
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Pine beetle wood will soon be used to generate heat and electricity for several buildings in Prince George.
The federal, provincial and municipal governments have announced plans for the community biomass energy system.
Work begins on the biomass burner this spring and it's expected to be in operation by 2009.
The annual cost is estimated at 305-thousand dollars but the program will generate gross revenues of about 685-thousand dollars a year.
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Future I-C-B-C rate increases may have a lot to do with where you live and what you drive.
I-C-B-C spokesman Doug McClelland says the insurance corporation now has permission to set variable rates as much as six per cent above or below the provincial average.
McClelland says the variable rates would cover risks posed by certain types of vehicles, such as motorcycles, or certain regions of the province -- such as rapidly growing suburban areas where more cars translate to more crashes.
Starting May 1st, I-C-B-C will also charge 25 dollars to list additional drivers on a vehicle's insurance, but the fee only applies if the secondary driver does not own a vehicle and has less experience or a worse driving record than the main driver.
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In ostensibly democratic countries like ours, individuals run for election to help actualize societal needs.
esidents along the route of the new sewer line are also un
happy with the additional annual tax load of $97 just for the privilege of residing along the line even though they don't have to connect. They should be happy, at least they are not burdened with the $568 user fee. Incidentally, those taxes are parcel taxes. When Council deliberated on financing options for the Fire Halls they decided that parcel taxes were unfair and opted for using the general taxation option based on property values. Why is it unfair for the Fire Hall but fair for the sewer line?
Visitors to Vernon Jubilee Hospital are being asked to either stay away or take precautions upon visiting patients following an outbreak of the Norwalk Virus.
Peter du Toit, Interior Health’s Health Services Administrator for North Okanagan, said the virus hit on the hospital’s medical wards.
“It started with an outbreak of gastro symptoms at the end of last week,” said du Toit Friday morning. “On Thursday, we had 12 patients and 10 staff that were impacted. We put the patients with the symptoms together to help prevent a spread of the virus.”
Visitors to the hospital are greeted with a sign right in the front lobby, explaining that an outbreak of vomiting and diarhhea has occurred, and people are being discouraged to visit patients at this time.
If you do go to see someone in the hospital, you’re encouraged to wash your hands before and after the visit, or after making contact with a patient.
The hospital is monitoring the situation on an hour-to-hour basis.
“The staff and everyone at the hospital is doing a great job to make sure the virus doesn’t get out of hand,” said du Toit. “The Norovirus is extremely contagious.”
Medical information from a website says the Norwalk virus is a common cause of vomiting and diarhhea in winter, and is often called the stomach flu.
The Norovirus group causes viral gastroenteritis predominantly during the winter in temperate climates.
Outbreaks of Norwalk virus usually occur in schools, nursing homes or in group settings, such as banquet halls and cruise ships.
A Norwalk virus infection usually results in illness 24-to-48 hours after exposure, and symptoms last from 12-to-48 hours. The illness is characterized by the quick onset of vomiting and diarrhea. Abdominal cramps are common, and many patients report headache, nausea, and low-grade fever.
Norwalk virus infection is more frequent in older children and adults than in infants and toddlers.
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This discussion is extremely important to Specified Sewer Area 1 (SSA1) customers.“The one study will TRY (?) and determine the cost of servicing areas to the north and south of the 2006 sewer extension, including Whetzell, Bonavista and DeJong drives. ‘We want to know exactly how to do it,’ said Corner of the possible expansion of the sewer system and the cost. (MS, October 7.) ”
at they neglected to ad is that this study was done to investigate the feasibility of constructing Coldstream’s own sewage treatment plant. Sewage would have been flowing from west to east, treated and disposed on designated lands in Coldstream. It was abandoned and Coldstream continued to send sewage to Vernon. What is the difference? Lots!“If the district intends to maintain the current system of sendingall effluent from the District to the City via the existing collection mains, prior to reaching the full development of Middleton Mountain, expenditures in the order of $2 million will be required to upgrade the existing mains. In addition, there will be costs to upgrade the transition main beyond the District’s boundary to the City of Vernon plant. A request has been sent to the city to confirm the order of magnitude of these costs; however, this information has not yet been received.”
Some of you might be wondering why I am neglecting my blog. In fact, I was busy critically reviewing the budget as it relates to sewer rates and I am producing my first interesting observation on the subject. It seems, the trend of "milking" sewer customers is continuing and it demonstrates that we must stand up for our rights.
The Blunder of 2007 Title was a close contest but after an exhaustive tabulation of votes our Bean Counters and lawyers Dewy, Cheetum and Howe have certified that Coldstream Council has received 75% of the ballots cast and win the Prestigious Dumb as a Dodo Political Blunder Trophy for 2007 for their perseverance in having a referendum on the Non Farm use of ALR Land.
In second place with a 69% rating for their counter petition ploy for the Library/Civic Centre was the Vernon City Council.
The Bronze medal for third Place goes to NORD for their higher than cost of living pay raises who received a 42% rating.
Technically Vernon City Council with their Residential Tax increase and Business tax decrease did receive a 45% rating and was higher than the NORD blunder but the strict rules of the competition do not allow any Council to win more than 1 medal so as to save Political face and embarrassment.
Vernon & Districts Taxpayers' Association Public Meeting
January 8, 2008
7:00 pm
Schubert Centre*******************************************************
We completely agree! 
Mayor Corner believes there is no room to scale back the 9.17% increase in taxes. Could we convince him otherwise? Think of your 20% or more increase in assessment and how it will affect your taxes in 2008! Your presence and input at the budget open house on Monday, January 7th from 5-7 in the Municipal Hall could be vital. Remember also that we do not know what water rate increases will be and we know that they are recommending a further 5.2% increase in sewer rate.
“...all the debate around the once proposed sports complex on Aberdeen Road is a sign of a healthy, democratic community, says Mayor Gary Corner.”That s
ounds almost to be true. However, we remember the attempt by Mayor Corner to have an end-run around Council and the entire community of Coldstream by authorizing a letter to the ALC (Land Commission) requesting permission for the alternate use of the land in question (click on letter). That does not sound very democratic to me. I am sure I am not the only one thinking that way.
Not so fast Mr. Mayor. The original plan (2002 Master Water Plan) only mentioned the Duteau Creek plant in passing and rejected it as inefficient and too expensive and discarded it. That MWP was “...developed by some of the best water engineering minds in Canada...”(Mayor Harvey, click on Letters) yet they did not like the DC plan. That plan was not always “on the books”.
d should be providing second rate treated water to the former VID customers. This “We’ll hopefully start construction this winter” is a poor excuse and instead of boasting, major apologies should be in order. Mayor Corner, a major promoter of the plan and present Chair of GVS, and the rest of the proponents have never accepted any responsibilities for misleading the public and not delivering the goods.
The end of a controversial referendum in Coldstream may have left some outsiders with the impression of a divided community.But all the debate around the once proposed sports complex on Aberdeen Road is a sign of a healthy, democratic community, says Mayor Gary Corner.
“It’s just like anything else, anytime you hold a referendum there’s always differing opinions, that’s democracy.”
Even the district’s own politicians have been split over this issue and many other issues. But, again, Corner says there’s nothing wrong with a council that well-represents its community.
“We have a council that has differing opinions and that’s fine, that’s what a council is supposed to be all about.
“I think we work really well together.”
That could all change next year with the municipal election, which Corner will not say whether he will be running in again.
While Corner is disappointed with the loss of the sports complex opportunity this year, Coldstream still has a pair of key projects to look forward to in 2008.
Both the Coldstream and Lavington Fire Departments will be able to move into new halls this year.
The Lavington hall is being built on the existing site and the Coldstream hall is under construction near the existing hall on Aberdeen Road, next to the public works yard.
“Hopefully they’ll both be done by late spring,” said Corner.
Another service residents can look forward to is water that looks, well, like water.
The Duteau Creek water treatment plant has long been on the books, but construction is anticipated soon.
“The plan always was to upgrade that plant at sometime,” said Corner, who is also Greater Vernon Services Committee chairman. “We’ll hopefully start construction this winter.”
The new treatment plant has been a sore spot for some residents, who have seen prices skyrocket from the original $19 million to the newest price tag of $28.6 million.
But those original cost estimates were on a basic plan, says Corner, and since the plan has been enhanced the project has also received a $13.8 million grant from senior government.
Residents have also been tapping their fingers waiting for the project to evolve.
Corner says the delay is not a result of politicians.
“They just think we’re dragging our heels but we’re moving as fast as we can.”
The start of construction work has been pushed back because of the federal government’s requirement for an environmental assessment.
It’s hoped that construction can still be completed by early 2009, with it fully operational in April of that year.
One service residents have been able to enjoy this past year is the new Centennial Park at the Sovereign House.
While the park still needs a few touches for completion, it offers residents beach access, park space and access to a historically prominent site.
Sewer extensions are also on the books for the future. The next phase of sewer is to continue off the line installed in 2006. It would continue up Giles Drive and head towards Coldstream Creek.
A recent environmental study has shown that septic tanks are having a negative environmental effect in that area. The district has applied for grants to do the design for the sewer line and is crossing its fingers awaiting a response.
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Kudos for Richard Rolke!Obviously municipal staff think all of their projects are vital when they submit items to council for consideration, so the tough job of deciding what stays and what goes is up to the politicians.
Council in Vernon is also going through a budget process, but unlike Coldstream, it is looking at ways of trimming a proposed 5.07 per cent hike in taxes.
“Staff brought it forward and it’s our job to look at the priorities and where to cut,” said Jack Gilroy, a city councillor.
And that’s the way it should be. Staff presents information on what could be addressed for the coming year, and the politicians call the shots. No where in provincial legislation does it say that politicians have to automatically rubber-stamp staff recommendations.
They are allowed to think for themselves. It is also important for Coldstream council not to look at finances in isolation. Granted it is only responsible for the municipal portion of the tax bill, but property owners are responsible for it, Okanagan Regional Library, North Okanagan Regional District, school board and health care. If all of those jurisdictions increase their requisition (and who has ever heard of taxes going down?), the cumulative impact on an individual taxpayer is significant.
On top of this, all properties have seen their assessments climb and that can also have an effect on the bottom line.
There’s also the nickel-and-diming jurisdictions pursue through various fees, including the doubling of some levies related to the cemetery.
Residents may get the impression that the 2008 budget is written in stone, but it’s not.
Provincial legislation doesn’t require municipalities to adopt financial plans until May so there is plenty of time for council and district staff to go back to the drawing board and see if changes can be made.
And not cutting just for the sake of cutting or reducing the limited services available in Coldstream, but scrutinizing the budget and realistically deciding if any expenditures can be deferred.
But for changes to occur, residents may need to apply some pressure to council, either by phoning all seven members directly, or attending a budget open house at the municipal office Jan. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Ultimately, taxes are a fact of life and none of us can avoid them.
But our elected officials and bureaucrats, who benefit financially off those same taxes, should realize that their job is to provide some balance and not force us into the poor house.
2008 has arrived and as we say good bye to 2007 it is time to review some important events from 2007.
