Sunday, May 06, 2012

Grants sought for water upgrades

Two major projects within the Regional District of North Okanagan will apply for available grant funding to help with costs. Greater Vernon Advisory Committee directors voted in favour of recommending to the RDNO board of directors that applications for funding under the Gas Tax agreement’s general strategic priorities fund and innovations fund be authorized for the Duteau Creek Water Treatment Plant, stage two, and the remote read agricultural meter upgrade. “I think this is the best opportunity to get money,” said RDNO administrator Trafford Hall. “I urge you to pass this.” The estimated cost of stage two of the Duteau Creek plant will cost close to $22 million, and includes the addition of filtration to satisfy Interior Health treatment objectives. A study as been commissioned by RDNO to determine the suitable filtration treatment processes. The remote read agricultural meter upgrade would allow Greater Vernon Water to collect meter data more frequently, and the Okanagan Irrigation Management could be set up to update customers on daily water consumption. The estimated cost of the upgrade is $250,000. City of Vernon alternate director Bob Spiers and Coun. Gyula Kiss of Coldstream were opposed to the application.
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Don Quixote Note: Both Kiss and Spiers did not want to tie the grant specifically to the Duteau Creek Water Treatment Plant.  In the final approval of the updated Master Water Plan (expected in late Fall) the proper place for the grant money may be Filtration on the Mission Hill plant. Engineers at RDNO felt that the grant money could be transferable to the Mission Hill Plant filtration project if deemed that that was the proper way to go. It is my view that Grants of this size would not be transferable if they were not part of the original grant application.

1 comment:

Kalwest said...

What the hell is "Gas Tax" money being used for a Water issue?