Coldstream lashes out at city reversing direction

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 09, 2009 7:00 PM

The City of Vernon is being accused of betraying a deal to try and keep the water utility from collapsing. On Monday, council announced it will not meet with the North Okanagan Regional District and Coldstream over its plans to leave water distribution. Two weeks ago, the city’s three NORD representatives had agreed to a process to review the matter. “It’s kind of a stab in the back,” said Pat Cochrane, a Coldstream councillor. “I thought with the new bodies around the Greater Vernon table there would be a willingness to sit down and talk. But for the city to veto a meeting, I don’t understand.” Doug Dirk, another Coldstream councillor, is upset with the city’s NORD directors. “It appears that (Vernon) council is not directing this. They voted at the board level but when they went back to staff, a different direction was taken,” he said.

When it came time for Coldstream council to officially receive correspondence from Vernon Monday, Cochrane was opposed. “I’d rather scrunch it up and throw it into the recycling bin,” he said.

However, Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert, who also sits on NORD, defends the city’s actions. “The arbitrator has been chosen and is getting together with the lawyers on the 22nd of this month,” he said of the process established so the city can withdraw from water distribution. Following a report from the arbitrator, Lippert says a meeting may be considered in the future. “We’re still open to having discussions.” The city is also asking Areas B and C and Coldstream to indicate their expectations for water distribution and supply. “We haven’t had anything clear from Coldstream,” said Lippert.“It’s another way of keeping their feet to the fire.”

Last spring, the city announced it would not participate in water distribution for a number of reasons including a lack of co-ordination on capital projects among jurisdictions and the belief that customers are confused over the governance structure. If the city does leave distribution, the other partners have questioned how the function can continue financially.To avoid what it saw as costly arbitration, NORD decided to establish a process that would include staff developing a report with a historical water rates analysis, capital expenditures by jurisdiction and operating costs by area.“We were hoping to resolve some of these difficulties,” said Mike Macnabb, Area C director. “Going to arbitration may or may not be to their advantage.”