Though it didn't include golden faucets and fixtures, members of the Greater Vernon Services Commission have plugged up the plan for the "Taj Mahal" of toilets."No" votes from Vernon councillor Barry Beardsell, Coldstream councillor Mary Malerby and Electoral Area "B" director Cliff Kanester were enough to sink a $191,722 washroom facility proposed for the Sovereign property on Kalamalka Lake.
"There is no way I'm voting in favour of it," Beardsell said. "It's the Taj Mahal of toilets as far as I'm concerned."Although the remaining four members of the commission voted in favour of the facility, there was not a large enough majority to pass the project. Greater Vernon chairman and Coldstream mayor Gary Corner had strong words about the decision. "We've been dicking around, if you'll pardon my language, with this for way too long now," he said. "I don't think they'll find anything cheaper."Now that the proposal failed, parks staff will have to go back to the drawing board and have been asked to come up with a smaller, cheaper building. Parks director Al McNiven said he is not sure that shrinking the project is feasible given the large number of toilets needed. However, if the stucco and rock around the outside were removed it would save about $20,000, he said."The whole point of that is to make that park something a little bit extra," he said. "We can take it down to a basic green-sided building."Although she couldn't vote because she's not a commission member, Coldstream councillor Carol Williams said the prime parkland deserves a spectacular washroom to match."This is one of the most beautiful properties in the whole world," she said. "It's not being treated with respect and we're debating about the cost of a washroom."At more than 900 square feet in size, Beardsell said that by his calculations the building would cost $208 per square foot. He said that rate is far more than the typical home and is far too expensive for a bathroom."It's the poor old taxpayer out there who can't afford this," he said. "If this is the cost of everything we do now we're going to bankrupt the poor guy out there."Greater 
Vernon Services had tendered the washroom project and the only bid to come back was for $191,000. McNiven said that the booming construction industry means that any building these days is expensive."Are you confident you'll get a better price?" he said. "My suggestion is you either jump in and get on with it or you put everything on hold."The five-acre Sovereign property was purchased in 2003 and was intended to provide another park and lake access point to the public. Corner said that the time has come to finalize plans for the property so that the park can open by next summer."I think this is an important piece of property we've acquired and we need to spend money on it to make it usable - it's as simple as that," he said.
"There is no way I'm voting in favour of it," Beardsell said. "It's the Taj Mahal of toilets as far as I'm concerned."Although the remaining four members of the commission voted in favour of the facility, there was not a large enough majority to pass the project. Greater Vernon chairman and Coldstream mayor Gary Corner had strong words about the decision. "We've been dicking around, if you'll pardon my language, with this for way too long now," he said. "I don't think they'll find anything cheaper."Now that the proposal failed, parks staff will have to go back to the drawing board and have been asked to come up with a smaller, cheaper building. Parks director Al McNiven said he is not sure that shrinking the project is feasible given the large number of toilets needed. However, if the stucco and rock around the outside were removed it would save about $20,000, he said."The whole point of that is to make that park something a little bit extra," he said. "We can take it down to a basic green-sided building."Although she couldn't vote because she's not a commission member, Coldstream councillor Carol Williams said the prime parkland deserves a spectacular washroom to match."This is one of the most beautiful properties in the whole world," she said. "It's not being treated with respect and we're debating about the cost of a washroom."At more than 900 square feet in size, Beardsell said that by his calculations the building would cost $208 per square foot. He said that rate is far more than the typical home and is far too expensive for a bathroom."It's the poor old taxpayer out there who can't afford this," he said. "If this is the cost of everything we do now we're going to bankrupt the poor guy out there."Greater 
Vernon Services had tendered the washroom project and the only bid to come back was for $191,000. McNiven said that the booming construction industry means that any building these days is expensive."Are you confident you'll get a better price?" he said. "My suggestion is you either jump in and get on with it or you put everything on hold."The five-acre Sovereign property was purchased in 2003 and was intended to provide another park and lake access point to the public. Corner said that the time has come to finalize plans for the property so that the park can open by next summer."I think this is an important piece of property we've acquired and we need to spend money on it to make it usable - it's as simple as that," he said. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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What Can You Get for Less Than $190,000: (ACTUAL BUILDING PERMITS 2006)
Building Area (m2): 324.82
Building Value: 188,090
Building Area (m2): 324.82
Building Value: 188,090
THIS PERMIT HAS BEEN CREATED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING with double garage and partially finished basement.
Building Area (m2):296.73
Building Value:188,594
THIS PERMIT HAS BEEN CREATED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING with basement partially finished
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