A water rates cheatsheet for 2012

GVAC has approved water rates increases and these will go into effect April 1, 2012 if RDNO (NORD) approves  at their next meetings. Your first bill with new rates will arrive after July 1, 2012.

A Calculator where you can interactively enter your quarterly consumption totals in m3 can be found at:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet /ccc?key=0AqjuHhD4a7O5dGpVUENMTGdTUWZfSm9nVE9ieUtfQmc#gid=0

The tables below are examples of the percentage increase and $ increase for various levels of clients at various levels of water consumption. The second table illustrates 4 different consumers with different consumption levels per quarter. Personally my water bill will be going up by $80.92 (15.98%)

Annexation study unfolds

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: October 09, 2011 1:00 AM

2007 Cartoon during Governance Study.

 A study into absorbing rural communities into municipalities is underway.  The Regional District of North Okanagan’s Electoral Area Advisory Committee has received an update from the consultant conducting the annexation impact study.  “We want to look at the cumulative impact of annexation on electoral areas,” said Rick Fairbairn, EAAC chairperson and rural Lumby director. Phase one will consider municipal annexation policies, services provided by RDNO, services provided by other agencies, property taxes, local political representation and land use planning. Future possible phases could look at specific cases of annexation such as Okanagan Landing in Vernon in 1993. This is the first time that a study about annexing electoral areas has been done in B.C. RDNO made a presentation at the recent Union of B.C. municipalities convention. “It was well received by the other regional districts across the province,” said Fairbairn. The study should be completed by the end of November.

Sixty-five City Of Vernon Employees Made More Than $75,000 in 2010 - Retired NORD boss leads local government salary list

Kate Bouey 105.7 SUNFM 5/31/2011

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Figures on the City of Vernon's website show 65 employees were paid over $75,000 in salary and expenses last year. They also show that of the 15 who made over 100-grand, eight were members of the Vernon Fire Rescue Service. Firefighters are currently involved in contract negotiations.  Administrator Leon Gous was the highest paid City official, bringing in just over $172,000 in 2010. But his salary and expenses were lower than that of Greg Betts who recently retired as administrator of the North Okanagan Regional District. Betts pulled in almost $188-grand last year. At the regional district, 25 employees made over $75,000 in 2010, eight of those were paid over $100,000.
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Don Quixote Note: The figures above are a total cost including expenses and the actual remuneration figure (that is 100% taxable) is different. The actual employee cost schedules can be found at:

• http://vernonblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/vernon-2010-annual-report-online.html  VERNON
• http://vernonblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/nord-financial-report-on-june-1s-agenda.html NORD
• http://vernonblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/coldstream-politician-defends-expenses.html Coldstream

Mr Betts Annual Remuneration was $176,156 while Mr Gous was the highest paid City of Vernon employee at $153,733. 

On Nord Agenda for Tomorrow June 1

IPHOTO Image

Tomorrow Wednesday June 1st, at 4 PM, I will be making a presentation to the RDNO board on becoming a GE Free Zone.

The purpose is to ask directors to declare the North Okanagan's intention to sign a resolution that they intend to become GE Free. Regions where genetically modified crops are already grown that have declared their intention of becoming GE Free see a reduction in the amount of GMO grown and a willingness to transition to non GMO. This is good for the environment, our health and the local economy. If any of you are close to Vernon BC (the RDNO office is on Hwy 6, in Coldstream) please consider showing up for this short presentation to show your support for a non GMO future in the North Okanagan. You can also help by using the phone, Facebook, Twitter, and blogs to let everyone you know who cares about real food know about tomorrow.

Huguette Allen.

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Board of Directors

Wednesday, June 1, 2011 - 4:00 pm

Download PDF (1.6MB)

P.19-23 for Data re GE Free Zones

Amalgamation not pushed by mayor

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: March 11, 2011 1:00 AM
Greater Vernon’s governance woes were on the agenda, but amalgamation wasn’t a priority.  Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert met with Ministry of Community Development staff in person  and minister Stephanie Cadieux by conference call while in Victoria Monday.  Lippert says he raised concerns that voting rules at the North Okanagan Regional District have not been applied consistently by staff. “There’s some good people out there but I’m not sure the experience is there,” he said of how recent decisions have been handled on parks and recreation.  “I asked for them (ministry) to provide consistency on procedures.”  Discussions also revolved around service reviews on the fire training centre, the water utility and parks and recreation.  “The service reviews have been  going on for more than three years and they haven’t ended yet,” said Lippert, adding the process can’t go on forever.  “We have asked them for some timelines. Decisions have been delayed because there is no consistency on where it will go.”  But while Lippert expressed concerns about the city’s relationship with NORD and Coldstream, he insists that he did not push for one level of government.  “The only discussion was you can amalgamate, let us out of services or develop proper procedures,” he said.  “They don’t like having to do that (forced amalgamation).”  Also participating in the meeting in Victoria Monday was Leon Gous, Vernon’s chief administrative officer.

‘Status quo’ for NORD finances

By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: March 20, 2009 4:00 PM

David Sewell had no desire to make any major changes. In delivering his first five-year financial plan since assuming the role in the fall, the North Okanagan Regional District’s chief financial officer stayed on course with past administration. “The five-year financial plan represents the status quo,” said Sewell during discussions about the plan at Wednesday’s regular NORD meeting with directors. “We haven’t really significantly changed anything from year after year, and that reflects both my tenure and the change in administration after the new board was elected in November. “I’ve got some ideas how things may change in the future, but I’m moving cautiously...This financial plan says to keep doing what we’ve been doing, recognizing there have been some service additions and service deletions.” Discussions with the board identified three key chances for improvements in the financial plan process that, due to time constraints and the significant changeover in senior staff, have not been fully implemented this year. The three items are an extended financial plan development process; overhead allocation policy review; and a look at reserve funding and expenditure policy framework.

The plan shows that NORD is going to transfer $8.6 million from its reserve funds this year. “Reserves is one of the areas we’re reviewing,” said Sewell. “The directors have to consider what they want to do with the money. There’s lot of money in there but they have to consider their wish lists.” The biggest expenditure for NORD in 2009 will be funding to the Duteau Creek Water Treatment Plant currently being constructed. Sewell said NORD has put in for $18 million in capital borrowing to help move the project along. NORD chairman Eric Foster, the mayor of Lumby, called Sewell’s five-year plan “solid and good.” “He’s done a great job for us,” said Foster. NORD will have some cost-saving in 2009 after the Greater Vernon Economic Development and Tourism function folded. The City of Vernon has taken over that responsibility.

NORD Taxes

Fri, 2009-03-20 09:06. 105.7 SUN FM: Starlee Speers - Vernon

The North Okanagan regional district set its five year financial plan this week. Vernon will pay 145-thousand dollars less in requisitions to the regional district after deciding to take on functions like economic development. NORD chair Eric Foster says the regional district will no longer have an economic development officer. Foster says Vernon has offered use of its economic function on a fee per use basis. Vernon will pay nearly nine million dollars in requisitions to NORD in 2009.

According to councillor Bob Spiers, The economic development function will cost the city a quarter of a million dollars in it's first year.

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Don Quixote Note: The actual budget for the Economic Development function in the City of Vernon for 2009 is $247,560. You can find all the budget figures at

• 2009-2013 Financial Plan - 5.10MB

. A copy can be picked up at City Hall at the front desk. (This paper copy is much easier to read than the online version.) (March 30 th Public Input at 5:30 PM)

Last year (2008) at NORD Vernon's share of the Economic Development/Tourism function was $373,459 of a $554,180 Total NORD Function. (This included the Tourism Function for which Vernon in their 2009 budget has indicated a net cost of about $105,000.)

RDOS budget, slim and trim

By JOE FRIES Friday, March 20, 2009 Penticton Herald:

Compared to earlier versions, the 2009 budget that Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen directors approved on Thursday looks pretty sleek. Weighing in with a tax requisition increase of about eight per cent over last year‘s budget, this year‘s edition is a shadow of the first draft that featured a 13.4 per cent hike. Directors approved a total tax requisition of about $12 million, up from $11,050,000 in 2008. RDOS chairman Dan Ashton said earlier this month that the budget increase was mainly due to a decline in government grants and a reduction in surpluses, which had been used to offset tax hikes in past years. Penticton will see its share of the overall bill rise by six per cent to $1.5 million, which equates to a tax increase for landowners of about two cents for every $1,000 of assessed value. Summerland and Osoyoos face hikes of 7.8 and 6.4 per cent respectively, which also works out to about two cents per $1,000. Oliver, on the other hand, sees its contribution to the RDOS drop by 4.1 per cent, or $33,000, due mainly to the dissolution of the area‘s economic development society. Meanwhile, landowners outside the municipalities will see increases ranging from 2.9 per cent in Area C, Oliver Rural, to 17.8 per cent in Area G, Hedley/Keremeos. The final version of the budget was revised twice, which helped it shed about $500,000 before adoption. And the tweaks continued Thursday afternoon. Cawston director George Hanson was able to convince his colleagues to restore some funding to the Okanagan Film Commission. The board had previously agreed to cut the commission‘s grant from $34,500 to just $22,000, a decision that was reversed Thursday. Hanson noted that just this week it was announced that a $10-million project is set to begin filming soon near Osoyoos. “Contrary to some belief here, we receive a huge economic benefit,” from the grant money, Hanson said. “This will be the second big shoot the RDOS has had in less than 14 months.” Board members then went on to spend the better part of an hour debating Penticton Coun. Andrew Jakubeit‘s proposal to trim $50,000 from the RDOS air-quality program budget. It was determined that in order to preserve previously approved grants from the province, the $50,000 would have to come from the agricultural wood waste program, which sees RDOS staff help growers chip wood waste rather than burn it. Chipping is seen as preferable over burning because it doesn‘t produce smoke and contribute to air pollution. Oliver Mayor Pat Hampson suggested that notion is lost on some urbanites. “It doesn‘t make too much sense to cut out a program that enhances health,” he said, adding, “it‘s archaic” that everyone has to suffer the effects of wood smoke released into the atmosphere. Summerland Coun. Gordon Clark came out in favour of Jakubeit‘s proposal. “We‘ve got to find money somewhere to come out of this budget,” Clark argued, unsuccessfully. The budget eventually passed with only Couns. Jakubeit and Dan Albas in opposition. Prior to the board meeting, Penticton-Okanagan Valley MLA Bill Barisoff announced $653,000 in funding for the RDOS courtesy of the provincial and federal governments. The funds cover things like tree planting and park programs, water-system upgrades and a $1,080 carbon tax rebate.

City opposes cash for building

By Mike Simmons - Salmon Arm Observer Published: March 10, 2009

Salmon Arm city council decided on Monday to ask the Columbia Shuswap Regional District board to strike a $500,000 increase in general government spending from its budget. CSRD chief administrative officer Charles Hamilton said the increase in the CSRD’s general government fund is attributable in part to a proposal for a $500,000 reserve fund for a new building. The amount the CSRD requisitions from Salmon Arm increased by $287,899 this year. Coun. Kevin Flynn pointed out Salmon Arm would be paying 50 per cent of the cost of the building reserve, and only get 18 per cent of the value. “That’s a significant inequity.” Coun. Alan Harrison pointed out Salmon Arm funds 24 per cent of the general government costs for the CSRD. “The majority of that debt comes from the taxpayers of Salmon Arm.” Harrison said he could not support the way the building is being financed presently. He pointed out when council considered its tax increase, it had a percentage in mind. “If we had to add things, we took it away in other places.”

Hamilton said the CSRD does not have the same degree of latitude in creating its budget. Coun. Ken Jamieson pointed out Salmon Arm is paying 100 per cent of five positions at the CSRD, along with portions of others. This includes Hamilton’s salary. He asked Hamilton if 24 per cent of his work directly affects Salmon Arm. Hamilton said arguably, no. Flynn said he thinks the regional district budget process is flawed, and asked for direction from city council for the next CSRD meeting. Harrison made a motion to move that the $500,000 building reserve be removed from the CSRD budget this year. He said the two issues seem to be changing economic times, and the way the CSRD is set up. Harrison questioned the fairness of Salmon Arm paying for 24 per cent of general administration. “The motion would certainly let the CSRD know how we feel about it.” Coun. Ivan Idzan said he agrees with the principle that council send a strong message. He said he would like to see the amount reduced, not necessarily removed. Flynn said the way the city is being charged is wrong, and questioned why council would want to put anything into the building reserve. “What I need is a clear message from this council.”

Coun. Chad Eliason said while he recognizes the need for the building, he does not think the CSRD needs to spend $500,000. Jamieson said he supported the motion, as did Coun. Debbie Cannon. The motion carried unanimously.

RDOS budget cuts still leave significant tax hike

JOHN MOORHOUSE Friday, March 6, 2009 Penticton Herald:

Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen directors have chopped $312,000 from the $12.5-million budget presented last week. However, the overall increase in the taxation requisition remains at more than 10 per cent, as the RDOS board gave its initial budget support Thursday following two days of budget deliberations. Staff will continue to look for more savings prior to final budget approval later this month. The budget includes several specific initiatives, where costs are not shared by all rural areas and municipalities. Although the overall tax requisition now totals $12.2 million, the general government budget sits at $2,425,000.

RDOS chairman Dan Ashton said part of the reason for the higher taxes this year is a slight decrease in government grants and a 25 per cent decline in the regional district‘s surpluses. “Last year, surpluses to used to offset (taxes) so that‘s one of the issues we‘re having to address,” he said. “Everybody here realizes what we are going through and we‘re still not finished.” Ashton emphasized the new budget also reflects new services such as air quality control initiatives, not included in last year‘s fiscal plans. “It‘s been very challenging -- not only for the board, but for the staff,” he said. “Everyone is cognizant of the times we‘re in and we‘re taking a hard look at absolutely everything.” Penticton Coun. John Vassilaki said although he voted in favour of first two readings of the budget bylaws Thursday, he‘d still like to see the tax increase drop substantially before the final budget is adopted.

The City of Penticton will contribute $1,537,000 to the RDOS this year - an 8.4 per cent increase over 2008. However, that is down from the 15.5 per cent hike proposed in the initial budget proposal. The budget cutbacks include a $50,000 reduction in the agricultural wood chipping program (to $100,000), the regional trails program takes a $49,000 hit, and $45,000 will be removed from an industrial and commercial plastic recycling program. An additional accountant in the RDOS office won‘t be hired until later this year, resulting in a saving of $36,000. The District of Summerland will contribute $636,000 to the regional district budget -- up 9.8 per cent from a year ago. Property owners in Okanagan Falls-Kaleden (Area D) face a 3.1 per cent increase, while Keremeos residents see a decrease of 0.7 per cent. The highest tax hike will be felt in the Town of Princeton, which faces a 43.7 per cent increase in its RDOS tax requistion (rising to $176,000), mainly due to a new community swimming pool. No more budget workshops are planned, but the RDOS board will revisit the budget prior to its adoption on March 19.
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Regional district pares back budget Joyce Langerak - Penticton Western NewsPublished: March 05, 2009

The five-year financial plan for the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen was read a first and second time yesterday during a regular board meeting. The grand total for the annual RDOS budget is about $27 million, said Debra Potter, manager of finance. Tax requisitions usually put in about $12 million a year into the budget. “We trimmed back another $300,000 off of regional services,” said Potter. Everybody shares in the cost of regional services, she pointed out, but other parts of the budget are specific to electoral areas. The plan is to do a third and final reading during the board’s next regular meeting on March 19. “I have full expectation we’ll have finished our work by then,” said Potter. “If not, we have until March 31 for last-minute changes.” On Wednesday, the directors spent the whole day going through the proposed annual budget line by line. In the morning, they went over the supplemental side of the budget, trying to cut back wherever possible. For example, the Wood Waste Program was dropped from $150,000 to $100,000 and the mosquito control helicopter spray program lost $5,000.

Public Works Manager Pat Hickerson requested an extra $45,000 to expand agricultural solid waste plastic recycling, now costing $21,000 a year, to include industrial and commercial plastics. His request was denied. The Okanagan Film Commission requested $50,000, but director Dan Albas moved that funding be reduced to $22,000 in 2009, and that was passed following a long discussion. It was mainly agreed that the commission has been in the area for about 10 years and is doing well from a business standpoint. Director Walter Despot agreed with the reduction but said, “It’s unfair for us to cut them off overnight.”

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Don Quixote Note: The Okanagan Film Grant at NORD is listed at $26,934 for 2009 of which Vernon picks up $19708 (73.1%)

Regional budget under fire

Joyce Langerak - Penticton Western News Published: February 28, 2009

The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen is working on a budget which at this point would see taxes go up 13.4 per cent. That’s not acceptable, says Penticton Coun. John Vassilaki who also sits on the board of the RDOS. Penticton pays 42 per cent of administrative cost for the RDOS, he explained. In the budget proposed for 2009, that number has gone up by about $220,000 — 15.5 per cent over last year. Along with other increases included in the budget draft, the total taxes would rise from $11,050,000 to $12,526,000 — an overall increase of 13.4 per cent. “Those figures are not palatable to me,” said Vassilaki. “The City of Penticton is also trying for a zero increase. There’s no way on earth I’ll be voting in favour of such an increase when we’re trying at the city to make it zero.” New items listed in the budget would cost about $355,000 including more than $37,000 for the Regional Growth Strategy, $150,000 for an agricultural wood waste chipping program and $45,000 for plastic recycling. If the budget goes through, Penticton’s share would cost the city about $1,638,0000 and Summerland would have to come up with about $673,000 — up more than $93,000 over last year.

“We have six municipalities in the district and nine, electoral areas, including the Penticton Indian Band. All those electoral areas pay their own budget.” His concern is that the municipalities pay too much for RDOS administrative costs. “Municipalities pay a lot more than what the electoral areas are paying,” he said. “They (RDOS) have got to go back to their departments and start cutting off all the fat like we’re doing in Penticton. In Penticton, we’re going through the budget line by line.” For example, the city has cut back its hanging flower-basket budget from $60,000 to $30,000. “That’s how you cut. You’ve got to go through all the different departments, the parks, the planning, inspection, go through all those areas.” West Bench area director Michael Brydon brought up the fact that the Okanagan Film Commission, which is requesting $50,000 for the coming year, is a business that has been around for about a decade and should be able to make it on its own. However, the budget includes $34,000 for the film commission, the same as in 2008.

What has been laid out is a budget for the next five years. “We look ahead five years, but it changes every year,” said Vassilaki. “What we do is we put on paper what we think is going to happen five years from now. But then, in reality, every year we bring in a new budget whatever the true numbers are going to be for that year.” Another meeting will be held next Wednesday to further discuss the proposed budget which must be adopted by March 31.

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Don Quixote: NORD 2009 BUDGET COMPARISONS TO SOME OF THE ABOVE STATS:

• the total NORD taxes would rise from $18,289,196 to $18,779,369 (2.7%)
• VERNON"S share would cost the city about $$8,945,550 down from $9,090,276 (-1.6%) (an apparent Reduction of $144,726 from budget, $152,140 from 2008 actual) but Vernon has exited from Economic Development which cost it $373,459 in 2008 and for which it will get back $36,466 in 2009. Actual change will become an increase in taxes when actual continuing and new services are compared.
• VERNON pays 51.43% per cent of administrative cost for the NORD ($358,311 out of $696,605 for 010 General Government)
• Okanagan Film Commission, is budgeted for $26,988 of which Vernon's share will be $19,708 (73%)
  

RDOS balks at proposed tax hike

JOHN MOORHOUSE Friday, February 27, 2009 Penticton Herald:
A proposed 13.4 per cent tax hike has Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen directors heading back to the drawing board. The draft financial plan, put before the RDOS board Thursday, calls for an overall tax requisition of $12,525,000 -- up from $11,050,000 in 2008. Debra Potter, the regional district‘s manager of finance, said this includes $355,000 for “new” budget items such as $150,000 for an agricultural wood waste chipper program, $45,000 for plastic recycling and more than $37,000 for the regional growth strategy. Potter noted the B.C. Assessment Authority‘s freeze on property assessments at 2007 levels, resulted in an overall assessment increase of just 1.8 per cent while the RDOS surplus revenues have dropped by 23 per cent.

However, regional directors balked at giving initial support to the financial plan. Instead, they opted to hold another special budget workshop next Wednesday, the day before their March 5 regular board day. Summerland Coun. Gordon Clark said he wanted more time to review the budget in detail, noting he had only received his copy of the thick budget document Thursday morning. “An issue with this size of a budget increase is a serious one,” he said. “People don‘t realize how dire the economy is.” Clark pointed to the City of Vernon which has adopted a budget with a zero per cent tax increase for 2009. Penticton Coun. John Vassilaki agreed that more time is needed for a full budget review. “Those figures are just not palatable to me,” Vassilaki said. “The City of Penticton is also trying for a zero increase.”

Penticton‘s share of the regional district‘s total proposed tax requisition is $1,638,000, while Summerland faces a $673,000 levy. Other directors voiced concerns about individual budget items. Naramata director Tom Chapman described the $150,000 for a wood chipper as a huge hit on the budget. He suggested the regional district look at less expensive alternatives, such as a “curtain burner” utilized by the City of Kelowna. In addition to chipping removed fruit trees and other agricultural waste, Chapman said the RDOS could soon face a massive amount of wood waste from beetle-infested pine trees. Michael Brydon, director for West Bench-Okanagan Lake West, wondered if the RDOS should eliminate its financial support for the Okanagan Film Commission, noting the industry is now well established in the Valley. The RDOS has budgeted $34,500 (identical to 2008) towards the commission which had requested a $50,000 grant this year. After considerable debate, the RDOS opted to hold another budget session next week. The budget must be adopted by the end of March.

Regional district scales back jaw-dropping tax hikes (CORD)

Jason Luciw - Kelowna Capital News Published: February 12, 2009

A huge tax hike, courtesy of the Central Okanagan Regional District, caused board directors to gasp and wince when they first saw the numbers this week. The proposed 21.2 per cent increase, contained in the 2009 provisional budget, was quickly reduced, however, to the detriment of a parkland acquisition strategy. On average, the original hike would have added $45.46 to tax bills in the Central Okanagan. Increases varied by municipality. Chief financial officer Marilyn Rilkoff quickly pointed out though, that the preliminary budget presented the full gamut of proposed programs and service improvements only for discussion purposes.She added that she fully expected the board would pare down the number.

In fact, almost immediately after Rilkoff showed a slide proposing one means of reducing taxes, Kelowna Coun. Brian Given moved immediate acceptance. The first program to be scaled back will be the new Parks Legacy Fund, which was being created to purchase additional parkland. Originally, the regional district planned to charge seven cents on every $1,000 of a home’s assessed value. That would have been about $32 on a home assessed at $450,000. However, Given said he felt more comfortable with Rilkoff’s back-up plan of charging 3.5 cents this year, and 3.5 cents in 2010.The board agreed.

West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater added that given the current economic climate and slowed pace of construction, parkland acquisition was a far less pressing matter these days. “I know that there was agreement on all of this before but the landscape has really changed quite radically since all of this started a couple of years ago,” he said “It needs a fundamental re-look.” Findlater said the board should also have an in camera discussion to review those properties being considered for purchase.

Given the downward adjustment to the parks legacy program, Kelowna residents will now be looking at a maximum increase of $9.79 on their tax bill for regional district programs and services like 911 service, Crime Stoppers, dog control, economic development and regional rescue, to name a few. On the other end of the scale, West Kelowna residents could potentially face a much larger increase of $32.79 for added services they receive, such as waste water treatment and transit. Increases would be $29.32 in Peachland, $26.93 in Lake Country and $5.94 in North Westside.Taxes would drop 29 cents in Joe Rich and Ellison.However, Rilkoff pointed out that the regional board will make even further cuts to the budget between now and its final adoption on March 27. She will present a second draft to the board on March 19.Regional district taxes are charged over and above what municipalities bill for their programs and services.

2009-2013 FINANCIAL PLAN PREPARATION

The Regional District of North Okanagan is currently in the process of preparing its 2009-2013 Financial Plan, with final adoption in March of 2009.

At this time, the Regional Board invites residents of the Regional District to attend the first workshop of the Financial Plan process which is scheduled for:

Thursday January 29, 2009 9:00 a.m.
The Prestige Inn
4411-32 Street
Vernon, BC

For times and dates of future meetings relating to Financial Plan Preparation, please visit our website periodically or contact our office directly at (250) 550-3700.

NORD appoints new administrator

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: December 11, 2008

Alarm bells are ringing over the hiring of a new administrator for the North Okanagan Regional District. Greg Betts, who is currently general manager of electoral area services, has been appointed as the new administrator, starting Jan. 5. But director Wayne Lippert says that while he has faith in Betts’ skills, the position should have been filled through a more traditional process. “We should have posted it internally or externally,” he said. “The final board decision was to approach Mr. Betts to see if he was interested. It would have been better for the board and Mr. Betts to see if there was any interest.” The decision to approach Betts about the job was made by the previous board in November.It’s officially not known who opposed the move but Lippert says there “was a definite split” among the directors.

Current administrator Brian Reardon is leaving at the end of the year to take up new duties on Vancouver Island. Herman Halvorson, NORD vice-chairman, defends the process followed with Betts. “Greg is very qualified for the job. He knows all of the staff and the senior managers are comfortable with him,” said Halvorson. Betts’ contract, which was ratified by the new board Wednesday, goes until May 2011, when Betts may possibly retire. “That gives us two years of transition and stability. The hiring process could have taken eight to 10 months and Greg would be there anyhow. And once a new administrator was hired, Greg would be showing them everything,” said Halvorson. Halvorson added that there is a shortage of local government administrators. “They are very hard to come by.” Part of Betts’ mandate will be to look at a process to fill the administrator’s position if he departs in 2011. Betts has been with NORD for three years and was administrator for Coldstream for 15 years. He has 30 years of experience in the field of local government.“Greg certainly has the credentials. He will be able to rise to that challenge,” said Lippert of Betts taking on his new role at NORD.

Betts’ salary as administrator will be $136,408 a year.