Water solution critical

http://www.dailycourier.ca/article_340.php By Scott NeufeldFriday, July 7, 2006, __________________________________________________________________
If an agreement can be reached between the resort and the regional district, Silver Star could have two different water utilities in town.However, due to the high number of concerns raised at Wednesday's Regional District of the North Okanagan board meeting, a settlement is still out of reach.Silver Star Mountain Resort has requested permission to build its own reservoir to guarantee a large enough water supply to ensure that future developments on the mountain will be flush with drinking water. The regional district operated reservoir at Paradise Lake that is currently in use is simply too small to allow the resort to expand.However, several regional directors are concerned that allowing Silver Star to set up a private utility in close proximity to a public one, will result in competition for customers that could cost taxpayers a lot of money. They want provisions that will make certain the public utility has a solid customer base."I've been opposed to having two utilities up there from the onset," said Electoral Area D director Rick Fairbairn. "It's going to create a chaotic situation - I think we're rushing into this."Under the latest proposal Silver Star water users would be split between the two utilities with new developments tying into the private utility. Shortly before the meeting, the resort asked that the Town Hall Cafeteria be switched from the public to the private system.Some directors interpreted this move as the beginning of customers abandoning the public utility.Area C director Stan Field, who is the political representative for the Silver Star community said he could not support the new proposal because it was significantly different from what was presented to the public. He said more consultation is needed before the district makes a move."If we change the agreement we have to go back to the taxpayers," he said. "This is certainly far from what we originally discussed."Several of the directors expressed resignation that because the province is also pushing for a private reservoir that the district is left with few options. Regional director and Armstrong mayor Jerry Oglow said that the district needs to "grab the bull by the horns" and find common ground before the province steps in and forces a settlement."At the end of day there is no way the resort is going to participate in a public utility up there," he said. "There needs to be a balance between what we have to do for the residents up the line . . . with what the resort is developing up there."The board has directed staff to look into the financial implications of having two utilities on the mountain as well as to make plans for another public hearing.In a later interview, Oglow said that resolving the water issue is critical to the future of Silver Star as a major destination resort and for the economic development of the entire region."They can't develop the mountain without water," he said. "(Silver Star Resort) has the money, they will pay for it and there is no cost to taxpayers."The regional district is planning to roughly double the capacity of Paradise Lake.