Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: March 06, 2009 4:00 PM
Local politicians are saying little about legal action involving Kin Race Track. North Okanagan Regional District directors and staff met behind closed doors Wednesday to talk about a dispute with the Okanagan Equestrian Society. “We just discussed it,” said director Jack Gilroy when contacted. NORD has told the society it can no longer use Kin Race Track as of Oct. 31, 2010 and all equipment must be gone by Dec. 31, 2010. The society sold its portion of the property to the regional district a few years ago, and both sides are currently locked in a legal battle over use of the site. The society maintains there is an agreement that calls for the property to host equestrian events. Wayne Lippert, Greater Vernon Advisory Committee chairman, was not willing to go into details about Wednesday’s meeting. “It’s with the legal system and an eviction notice has been given,” he said, adding that there was a need to bring some new NORD directors up to speed. “There are members of the board that haven’t been involved in the process so far.” Society president Ed Woolley isn’t surprised that the regional district is discussing the legal matter. “Other municipalities are talking to the regional district and trying to get some answers,” he said of Coldstream and Spallumcheen. “Members of the Greater Vernon community are also placing pressure on NORD.”
While the society sold its portion of the track to NORD, Woolley insists it was below fair market value and his group was required to put the money back into facility improvements. “We didn’t actually keep any of the money. They got free land essentially,” he said. If racing does end at Kin Race Track, NORD will launch a planning process for alternate uses, such as sports fields or a second ice sheet at Wesbild Centre.
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