Beauty Doesn't Come Cheap

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Monday, 14 March 2011 17:51 

Vernon council has approved paying an extra 132-thousand dollars to beautify the area near the new library, Tolko and Nixon-Wenger buildings. That's on top of 340-thousand already committed city funds. Councillor Mary Jo O' Keefe  says the $932,000 project---which  includes several partners---would have gone down the drain without the city stepping up.  "We were going to lose an investment of 900-thousand. That's what I was worried about. We don't get an opportunity to have that many people participate usually, so if we lost this opportunity, we would have to fund it all ourselves."  Councillor Jack Gilroy says the city will look to use casino funds.  "If we didn't do this, we would lose a grant from BC Hydro for over 350-thousand dollars. When you think of the 50 million dollars invested in that end of town, that two block section (28th Street and 30th Ave), 100-thousand dollars sounds pretty cheap." Project supporter Jack Borden said in a letter to council, 52 million dollars has been spent on new buildings in that area, and eliminating the "ugly utility poles and overhead lines must be a priority." Nixon Wenger law company is investing $140,000 in the project which includes putting utilities poles underground. There will also be a one million dollar road upgrade in that area which is set to go to tender next week.