Air quality function nears end

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: December 09, 2010 6:00 PM

The North Okanagan Regional District will no longer take steps to ensure clean air.  On Wednesday, directors gave three readings to a bylaw that would repeal the regional air quality service. “It’s not  evident that a committee can lead to improvements to air quality,” said John Trainor, Armstrong director.  “We were spending money but we were not really seeing a benefit.”  Kevin Acton, Lumby director, denies that air quality activities are being abandoned.  “We are dealing with air quality in our municipality,” he said, adding that there may eventually be a need for another regional function. “If something comes along that is worthy of doing, we can re-establish it.” Opposition to repealing the service came from Vernon directors Wayne Lippert and Patrick Nicol. “Air quality is an issue,” said Lippert, who believes the service could evolve to address any concerns.  “The service can be changed and we can put something in place that can work.”  The next step is for the participants – Spallumcheen, Armstrong, Vernon, Coldstream, Lumby, BX-Swan Lake and BX-Silver Star – to be asked to approve the function being cancelled.  In March, directors voted to eliminate $49,576 from the 2010 tax requisition for an air quality function, and will use reserves to fund remaining activities. On the expenditure side, the budget was cut from $87,780 to a projected $23,068.  A City of Vernon report in September indicated that the lack of dedicated employee time towards air quality is restricting access to government grants and air quality programs.