By roger knoxMorning Star StaffJul 14 2006 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
Calling it the latest insult in their 13-year sewer battle, Okanagan Landing residents were upset with the City of Vernon's decision not to fund the purchase, connection and operation and maintenance of private sewer lift/grinder pumps. These pumps are needed to connect to Vernon's sanitary sewer mains. In a unanimous vote, councillors opted to maintain existing polices and bylaws, and to utilize local specified areas (LSAs) to provide services to those areas at the cost to the beneficiaries. Coun. Juliette Cunningham was absent from the meeting.
"We are livid with this vote," said Alan Hill who, along with about a dozen other residents, walked out of council chambers following the decision. This move, according to Hill, a 50-year Landing resident and former three-term Landing representative with the North Okanagan Regional District, came after developments at Predator Ridge and the Outback, past Ellison Park. Developers funded part or all of an extension of the sewer system past the Vernon Yacht Club so they could be on the same system as Vernon. Hill said 128 Landing residents have had to put their "stuff" into the four-inch lift/grinder pipes, which they've had to purchase and maintain. "Had the city and developers put in a new sewer system as planned, the same type that exists to the yacht club and were accepted by the city in 1992, there would be no necessity for this type of pump," said Hill. He pointed to a 1993 letter dated by then-Mayor Wayne McGrath, saying, as part of the Landing amalgamating with Vernon, that sewer would be provided at no cost to residents. Hill estimated the cost of installing the lift/grinder pumps for residents at around $15,000. In a seven-page report prepared by municipal engineer Rob Dickinson, councillors were told how Vernon checked with five communities that have private pump ownership. Coldstream, Kamloops and Pierce County, Wash. provide private ownership yet, according to McKinnon's report, all three would not recommend owning and operating private pumps. Kelowna and Penticton do entertain subsidies for pumps in certain situations.
Council was informed by City of Vernon staff that having everyone use the same type of lift/grinder pump would save the area approximately $200,000.
Calling it the latest insult in their 13-year sewer battle, Okanagan Landing residents were upset with the City of Vernon's decision not to fund the purchase, connection and operation and maintenance of private sewer lift/grinder pumps. These pumps are needed to connect to Vernon's sanitary sewer mains. In a unanimous vote, councillors opted to maintain existing polices and bylaws, and to utilize local specified areas (LSAs) to provide services to those areas at the cost to the beneficiaries. Coun. Juliette Cunningham was absent from the meeting.
"We are livid with this vote," said Alan Hill who, along with about a dozen other residents, walked out of council chambers following the decision. This move, according to Hill, a 50-year Landing resident and former three-term Landing representative with the North Okanagan Regional District, came after developments at Predator Ridge and the Outback, past Ellison Park. Developers funded part or all of an extension of the sewer system past the Vernon Yacht Club so they could be on the same system as Vernon. Hill said 128 Landing residents have had to put their "stuff" into the four-inch lift/grinder pipes, which they've had to purchase and maintain. "Had the city and developers put in a new sewer system as planned, the same type that exists to the yacht club and were accepted by the city in 1992, there would be no necessity for this type of pump," said Hill. He pointed to a 1993 letter dated by then-Mayor Wayne McGrath, saying, as part of the Landing amalgamating with Vernon, that sewer would be provided at no cost to residents. Hill estimated the cost of installing the lift/grinder pumps for residents at around $15,000. In a seven-page report prepared by municipal engineer Rob Dickinson, councillors were told how Vernon checked with five communities that have private pump ownership. Coldstream, Kamloops and Pierce County, Wash. provide private ownership yet, according to McKinnon's report, all three would not recommend owning and operating private pumps. Kelowna and Penticton do entertain subsidies for pumps in certain situations.
Council was informed by City of Vernon staff that having everyone use the same type of lift/grinder pump would save the area approximately $200,000.
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