Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 17, 2009 6:00 PM
A small light of optimism may be shed on a fight that’s ripped Greater Vernon apart. City of Vernon officials have presented Coldstream and the two electoral areas with a proposal it claims could keep the water distribution function in one piece. “This is an effort to keep looking at possible solutions,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert. “This would take devolution (withdrawal) off the table. ”The city’s plan would see all voting on water and parks and recreation shift to the North Okanagan Regional District board instead of at the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee.
“There’s a lot of politics at GVAC. The same politics don’t exist at the regional district,” said Lippert. The proposal also calls for all votes to be weighted, meaning each director would be delegated a certain number of votes based on the size of the jurisdiction they represent. With three representatives, Vernon would have the most votes. However, Lippert denies this would give the city control. “It would be control if we voted as a block but the Vernon representatives don’t always agree,” he said.
Issues surrounding water distribution first arose in 2006, and the city officially gave notice of withdrawal in 2006. The city claims withdrawing from the function will not only lower rates, but increase customer accountability, improve customer service and better co-ordinate infrastructure projects. Opposition has come from Coldstream and the electoral areas, saying water rates for their residents could soar if Vernon is not involved. But an arbitration process was recently launched so the city can leave the function.
Despite that process, though, Vernon officials say they are willing to talk with their partners. “We have to come up with a better solution than currently sits. That’s something we can all agree on,” said Patrick Nicol, a city councillor.
Wednesday was the first chance for the other Greater Vernon jurisdictions to look at the plan. “Thank you to Vernon for bringing it forward. It’s a positive step and we will take a look at it,” said Mike Macnabb, BX-Silver Star director.If the plan goes ahead, it could mean increased workload at the NORD board.“Does this board want to start sorting out Greater Vernon? Because if you do, we don’t need a (GVAC) committee,” said Doug Dirk, Coldstream councillor.
---------
Morning Star Editorial: It’s time to start talking again
Although the water distribution battle in Greater Vernon is far from over, 
at least there appears to be the willingness to talk about it. And that’s good news in the wake of the City of Vernon’s proposal to keep the water distribution function in one piece.The city’s plan would see all voting on water and parks and recreation shift to the North Okanagan Regional District board instead of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee. This is the latest move in an ongoing saga that was launched when the city gave notice of withdrawing from the water distribution function back in 2006. The city claims its water users are subsidizing rural customers while the District of Coldstream and the electoral areas claim many of their citizens use water for agricultural purposes which makes it an unfair comparison.
It appeared the two sides were at a stalemate until this latest move by the city which should at least take it out of the hands of the lawyers and back into the hands of the politicians where it belongs. We urge members of NORD, Vernon and Coldstream councils to at least use this as a starting point for discussions towards a negotiated solution that makes sense and is accountable to all involved, namely the taxpayers of Greater Vernon who elected these people to do just that.There is a history to this dispute that predates many, if not most, of the politicians currently serving in the area. However it’s definitely a problem created by politicians that needs to be solved by the same. Rather than exasperating the situation by going the legal route, it’s time to get the deal done.
No comments:
Post a Comment