Council seeks Victoria meeting

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: October 28, 2008

Large trucks will continue to roll along 27th Street, but city officials aren’t abandoning demands to meet with Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon. On Monday, council instructed Mayor Wayne Lippert, Coun. Barry Beardsell and senior staff to travel to Victoria to pursue pressing highway issues. This move came after Falcon indicated he couldn’t come to Vernon for a meeting. “I’m very disappointed the minister didn’t find the time to meet with us,” said Coun. Pat Cochrane. “I notice he was in Kelowna again for another photo-op. He seems to find Kelowna and he doesn’t have a good idea of the issues in Vernon.”

As a way of garnering Falcon’s attention over highway issues, Coun. Barry Beardsell had suggested the next council be recommended to close 27th Street off to transport trucks, forcing those vehicles on to Highway 97. Beardsell’s plan garnered support from Coun Juliette Cunningham. “You hate to do that kind of hostage taking but we have to get their attention some how,” she said. However, the rest of their colleagues disagreed, with Coun. Jack Gilroy insisting such a closure would disrupt local truck drivers. “They need that 27th exchange (to get to Highway 97). They can make the turns at 25th Avenue (to get on to the highway),” he said.

Beardsell had suggested closing 27th Street because it is a city road funded by local taxpayers but used as a connector between highways 97 and 6. While council has ordered a delegation go to Victoria, Beardsell is refusing to say if he will actually participate. “I’ve only gone to Victoria once before and it didn’t do any good,” he said. Beardsell says his role in the Victoria trip will depend on the outcome of a meeting of local Ministry of Transportation staff next week. “I will then decide accordingly what is the best route to take. If they’re not going to spend the money (on highway upgrades), there is no point in talking to them,” he said. Beardsell believes the trip to Victoria could have been avoided because Falcon spoke to a group of developers in Kelowna Friday.“Vernon is not far from Kelowna. I could have trotted down there to meet with him,” said Beardsell.