Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 10, 2009 6:00 PM
The City of Vernon is trying to plug what it sees as misinformation over possibly withdrawing from a regional service. Officials refute claims from a North Okanagan Regional District director that the process to dismantle water distribution could cost $1 million. “The only way costs will rise and get out of hand is if people dig in their heels and don’t co-operate,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert of Coldstream and the two electoral areas in Greater Vernon.“If everyone co-operates, the costs will be lower.”
All parties have hired lawyers and there is also an arbitrator involved, and that led to BX-Silver Star director Mike Macnabb suggesting the combined bill could be about $1 million.However, the city states its costs have been moderate — between $30,000 and $40,000 since 2006.But beyond that, the city claims its taxpayers will save money if it leaves water distribution.
“City water users do subsidize Areas B and C and Coldstream to the tune of about $3 million a year,” said Lippert. “We’re not opposed to subsidizing true agricultural users but we have an issue with people who aren’t true farmers getting a lower rate.”The city says withdrawing from the function will not only lower rates, but increase customer accountability, improve customer service and better co-ordinate infrastructure projects.
Issues surrounding water distribution first arose in 2006, and there was an agreement among all jurisdictions later that year to proceed with devolution or dismantling the function.Lippert, though, says the other parties ultimately backed out of the deal, and little progress has been made since. “We’ve always been open to discussion and devolution was supposed to be the answer to the problems of the day. There were issues they had that devolution would have addressed,” he said, adding that the city had no choice but to push for arbitration.
Doug Dirk, a GVAC director from Coldstream, isn’t sure how much arbitration will cost.“The lawyers and their schedule control the process,” he said.In terms of the distribution, Dirk says pooling resources together allowed the city to access water for development and in return, it agreed to sustain agricultural rates.“The issue is domestic rates compared to agricultural rates. It’s a misrepresentation of the issue,” he said of the city’s arguments.
Dirk also claims that any roadblocks have been created by the city.“They always say they want to resolve the issue but they’ve never moved from devolution,” he said, adding that Coldstream wants to mediate a solution so all parties remain in distribution.Macnabb could not be reached for comment.
2 comments:
Dear Mayor Lippert,
I am not sure if I can find the words to express how disappointed I am with your actions. You make me embarrassed to be a citizen of Vernon.
Was the ad in today's Morning Star paper paid for by you personally, or by Vernon taxpayers?
It is apparent that you are not interested in working together with any jurisdiction to provide safe, clean water for the benefit of all residents of Greater Vernon, including local farmers.
Your only position is devolution, regardless of the consequences.
- Why bother with an OCP that values local food production?
- Why bother extending economic development services to other jurisdictions?
- Why bother paying lip service to regional cooperation on any matters whatsoever?
If you want a divorce from GVWU, be prepared to give back what you received in the amalgamation/marriage, including those precious water licenses required to approve more development in the City. But what's that? You don't want devolution from the water source? I see, you only want to get out of the distribution function, which interestingly enough, isn't mentioned in your September 11 ad/propaganda.
If you know of some non-agriculturalists in Greater Vernon who are getting better deals on water than the rest of us, then you should inform those who set the rates and make the rules, so the system can be fixed to prevent unfairness.
All Greater Vernon residents pay the same rates for water. In that respect, no one person is subsidizing another.
If you believe the costs have only been $30-$40,000 to Vernon taxpayers since 2006, and that "further legal costs" will be minimal, you should invest in a new calculator and demand more accountability from your staff. Stop misleading us!
If you don't believe it is important to inform the people of Vernon of the true costs and implications of devolution, including the political wrangling that has ensued over the past few years, let me assure you that I will.
Typical. Put your hands up to borrow barrels of money to build a filtration facility for the Duteau source, and the minute it's going into the ground, pull the plug on the deal. And at the same time wheel truckloads of Joe taxpayers money into the garages of the lawyers.
Why can't we pull together and face the future rather than marching lock-step into the past.
Mayor Wayne, someone is selling you a bill of goods here and you need to take a hard long look at why it is important to them.
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