Lumby and Coldstream Mayors Look To Future

Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM Tuesday, 22 November 2011 12:18

A couple of re-elected North Okanagan mayors are anxious to get back to work with their new councils. Lumby's Kevin Acton thinks the province will put the plan for a new Okanagan prison on the shelf until there's more funding, and by that time, more communities may be interested. "There's a new mayor and council in just about every community in the North Okanagan. If they really wanted to, and I hope they don't, they could throw this back on the table six months from now and get a whole different answer from every community in the North Okanagan." Lumby along with Summerland, and First Nations in Penticton and Oysoyoos were shortlisted as potential sites for a new 360 cell minimum security prison last June by the Solicitor General's office. The cost to build it could be as much as $200 million.  Acton says the scrapping of the HST, and the world wide recession, have left the BC government short of cash.  "I think it's going to wait until they get the money." Acton, who while not mayor runs a massage therapist business in Lumby, wants to talk to landowners in the industrial park on how to make their land more attractive to developers, other than for a prison. "One of the reasons we made that pitch (for a correctional facility) was to get the infrastructure into the industrial park so we could develop that 200 acres of industrial land, so I guess we're going to be looking at ways to do that."

Jim Garlick is starting a second term in Coldstream.  "Right away I want to get in touch with Rob Sawatzky (new Vernon mayor) to talk with him, along with our partners from Areas B and C to make sure we're all on the same page and working together."  Garlick, a science teacher at Fulton Secondary, says it will take some time to get to know the new politicians which also includes new Area B director Bob Fleming, and for them to get up to speed on the issues. "And for those people already in such as Mike Macnabb (Area C) and myself, we have to be patient and help educate them and work with them, so we're not taking advantage of them, and we're working together to provide services for the entire  region."  Garlick also wants to move ahead with the new mechanics shop approved by 60 percent of Coldstream voters, in the referendum.  "Other things are just making sure our budget for the next year is set up, so we're able to accomplish things, yet keep it within a means that people can still afford." The new councils will be inaugurated December 5th.