Friday, November 25, 2011

O’Keefe Ranch loses general manager to council

Vernon’s gain is O’Keefe Ranch’s loss.  Catherine Lord was elected as a city councillor Saturday and that means she will be resigning as general manager at the historic site.  “I can’t do both and I have told the ranch board that,” she said.  “There is a conflict in my mind.”  The ranch is operated by a non-profit society but the property is owned by the City of Vernon and city taxpayers provide funding to the operation. Besides conflict of interest, Lord says she can’t manage the onerous schedule both manager and councillor require. “When the ranch is open during the summer, it takes 150 per cent,” she said. Lord, who has been manager for three years, says she will work with the ranch board to identify a replacement.
She also expects her experiences at the ranch will prove beneficial when the city is trying to determine long-term plans for the attraction.  “I will certainly have the history involved,” she said.

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