City puts forward plan

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: October 24, 2009 12:00 PM

Another potential solution to Greater Vernon’s ongoing water dispute is setting sail. Wayne Lippert, Vernon mayor, is proposing that administration of the water utility be removed from the North Okanagan Regional District and that a separate utility commission be established.“It would run its own budget,” he said, adding that there would be representation from all participants.Because the commission would need to be affiliated to one jurisdiction to apply for government grants, Lippert is suggesting the city fill that role.“Having it with the city will take the politics out and we have the contract to do all of the work,” he said.

The city has given notice that it will withdraw from Greater Vernon water distribution, and claims that move will lower rates for Vernon residents, increase customer accountability, improve customer service and better co-ordinate infrastructure.However, Coldstream and the electoral areas say water rates for their residents could soar if Vernon is not involved.

Doug Dirk, a Coldstream councillor, only became aware of Lippert’s proposal when he was contacted by The Morning Star.“Anything is worth looking at because the status quo is not acceptable,” he said, adding that more details are required.“Would the representatives be elected from the community as a whole or appointed by the jurisdictions as they are now? If there is no change there, there will be the same political issues.”

This isn’t the first concept the city has put forward as a way of avoiding the dismantling of the regional distribution function.The other proposal calls for all voting on water and parks and recreation shift to the North Okanagan Regional District board instead of at the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee.Votes would 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.

On Wednesday, numerous documents related to the dispute were made public by NORD.“It’s all part of being open,” said Mike Macnabb, BX-Silver Star director.“Some of it is pertinent and some of it is just everything there is on water devolution.”Macnabb has been asked by residents in his area for information on the current process and the possible implications if Vernon does leave distribution.“The best thing for people to do is get educated,” he said.