Directors oppose SIR withdrawal

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: February 20, 2010 12:00 PM

The City of Armstrong is getting little support when it comes to leaving the Sterile Insect Release program. Most North Okanagan Regional District board members have indicated they oppose the concept of the city withdrawing from the initiative. “If you get out, the rest of us have to pay,” said Jack Gilroy, a Vernon director and NORD’s representative to SIR. Because of concerns over costs, Armstrong council recently announced plans to leave the valley-wide initiative which attempts to control the impact of codling moth on apples. “Armstrong has been a co-operative partner in this from day one and all we’ve asked for is some fairness,” said John Trainor, Armstrong director, adding that there are no commercial orchards located within the city. “Our (tax) requisition has become disproportionate. I don’t think we’ve ever seen an SIR person in Armstrong.” The city pays about $12,000 a year to the program. “Armstrong would be willing to participate if it wasn’t paying the same rate as a place with large orchards,” said Trainor.

However, Gilroy believes a withdrawal by Armstrong could allow the moth to spread throughout the region. “There’s 1,000 (backyard apple) trees in Armstrong,” he said. “The Kootenays got out of the program a few years ago and it’s been devastated by the moth.” Mike Gavinchuk, BX-Swan Lake director, also supports SIR. “Codling moth doesn’t have any borders,” he said. “It’s not right for someone in my area with a big orchard to have to spray because someone has a tree and it gets infested and spreads.”

-------------------

Click on image to enlarge:

Vernon pays 73% of the taxation portion of the SIR Program

68.9% of the SIR program is paid by residential and business taxpayers while the remainder or 31.1% is paid by orchard owners through a parcel tax.

Allowing Armstrong to withdraw would cause taxation loss of $13,287. Vernon share to be picked up would be $10,182. (Coldstream would have an $2316 increase)

The 2008 loss of tax revenue when Enderby, Lumby and areas D,E, and F were allowed to withdraw cost $38,761 with Vernon's addition share costing $27,765 (Coldstream $6,933) to the residential and business taxpayer. (Vernon's approval was made on March 9 at a COW meeting Minutes (p.3,4 & 5 -6)