Coldstream wades into agreement

Brent Mutis - Vernon Morning Star Published: December 12, 2009 12:00 PM

Having been defeated four to three at the previous Coldstream council meeting, a proposal was passed Monday to join Vernon and other North Okanagan communities in facilitating economic development in the region. By joining the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Coldstream agrees that Vernon, as the largest city in the North Okanagan, will be the contact point for any industrial and business developments looking to start up in the area. There is no fee to Coldstream associated with the deal at this point. Coun. Richard Enns has been reluctant to see Coldstream enter into the MOU because past arrangements of similar nature didn’t work well for the district.

After hearing Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert and economic development officer Kevin Poole address council, he also questioned if Spallumcheen would be signing on. “The past situation was not good (and) this could be the same,” said Enns. “How will you alleviate the concerns?” Lippert said Spallumcheen Mayor Will Hansma has clearly indicated his town will be joining and further assured Enns if the deal doesn’t meet with Coldstream’s approval, they can get out at no cost. “The MOU is for one year. If we can’t prove it worthwhile, you deserve a chance to get out of it.” Lippert said the MOU won’t interfere with Coldstream’s official community plan or land leases but agreed the previous pact was not useful to any of the communities involved. He said that was the motivation for developing the MOU. Coldstream Mayor Jim Garlick wanted to know if there would be regular opportunities to inform Vernon about what they liked and didn’t like about the MOU. “That’s what this thing is all about,” said Poole. “We think it can work. We want to go back to each municipality to see what works and what doesn’t.” Garlick concluded the plan could be effective given the level of communication promised. “If we can tailor something that fits our community, that can work well.”