Meeting flooded with concerns

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted May 22, 2015 at 1:00 AM
Critics of Greater Vernon’s water utility insist they want to be part of the solution. About 100 people attended a meeting hosted by the Citizens for Changes to the Master Water Plan Tuesday at the Schubert Centre. “We’re not adversarial. We want to support our politicians in decision making,” said Terry Mooney, CCMWP spokesperson. However, significant concerns were raised about the current master water plan initiated by the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee, the decision to use Duteau Creek for domestic use and the failed $70 million borrowing referendum in November. “You elected the politicians. You can elect them in and you can elect them out,” said Maria Besso, a CCMWP member and former Coldstream councillor. “You should hold them accountable and (GVAC) staff takes direction from the politicians.” And a number of politicians were at the session. “We are undergoing a review and we are taking everything they said seriously,” said Catherine Lord, a Vernon councillor and GVAC director, of the crowd Tuesday night. Juliette Cunningham, a Vernon councillor and GVAC chairperson, insists all aspects of the water system are being reviewed. “There will be an opportunity for public input as we decide what to do with our master water plan,” she said. Other elected officials in attendance were Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund, city councillors Scott Anderson and Bob Spiers and Coldstream Coun. Gyula Kiss. CCMWP is calling for an independent review of the master water plan as a way of meeting long-term water needs. “We want a fresh new look undertaken of the master water plan,” said Eric Jackson, a member of the group and a former water reclamation director for Vernon. “We should return water rates to affordable levels.” Jackson referred to figures that show the annual bill in 2014 for a Vernon customer using 350 cubic metres of water was $899 compared to $291 in Kelowna and $427 in Penticton. “Water rates have now become a hardship for many businesses and residents. The direct result is brown lawns and lawns turned to rock.” CCMWP wants Duteau Creek only used for irrigating agricultural land and for domestic water to come from Kalamalka Lake and eventually Okanagan Lake, which Jackson says provide better quality water which will require less treatment. “Why are we treating Duteau Creek water to supply mainly irrigation water? The crops don’t need potable water,” said Jackson.