Sawatzky making the rounds at UBCM

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 26, 2012 1:00 AM
Vernon doesn’t necessarily have to reinvent the wheel when tackling major issues.  Mayor Rob Sawatzky is meeting with other elected officials during the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Victoria until Friday. “I hope to network and make  connections that help the city over the next few years,” said Sawatzky. Primarily, UBCM will provide an opportunity to hear how other communities are addressing matters like infrastructure, affordable housing and crime. “I want to find out what works and doesn’t work,” said Sawatzky. Sawatzky is also attending a variety of workshops and meeting with provincial cabinet ministers like Bill Bennett with community development. Sawatzky and Regional District of North Okanagan directors will also get together with Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid to discuss provincial meat regulations and approvals for water upgrades. “They are useful but not sufficient,” said Sawatzky of the brief encounters with the ministers and the requirement for follow-up at a later date. Besides Sawatzky, others attending UBCM are Councillors Catherine Lord, Juliette Cunningham and Patrick Nicol and chief administrative officer Will Pearce.