Friday, May 18, 2012

No funding for Coldstream path

By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star Published: May 18, 2012 1:00 AM
Coldstream’s Kidston Road path has been trumped for funds by Lumby’s new spray park, Kin Beach washroom upgrades and a Spallumcheen playground.  The district recently learned that it did not make the cut for a provincial grant for phase two of its multi-use path project. Meanwhile several other local projects did gain grant funding. “It’s very disappointing,” said Coun. Maria Besso. “However, there’s always next year.” Coldstream’s mayor suggests more work might be needed to gain grants next time around. “Next time we should point out that a lot of the use on that road is Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park users, so it’s seen as a partnership,” said Jim Garlick. The Kidston Road multi-use path is estimated to cost $299,302 and it was hoped the grant would be gained to cover up to 80 per cent of the cost before the project begins in March 2013. District funding for the Kidston path will be reviewed during 2013 budget deliberations, pending any grants applied for in the interim.

Rate hike booked
Coldstream is hiking the rent for a non-profit organization. The Friends of the Library currently leases part of the old fire hall building on Kalamalka Road for storage of books and book sales. But the non-profit organization, which raises funds for the Okanagan Regional Library Vernon branch, will soon be paying close to $900 more a year. “We are just trying to break even on our situation, not subsidize,” said Coun. Pat Cochrane of the increase. “It’s only fair to our taxpayers that we don’t subsidize it.” In 2011, the Friends of the Library’s annual lease was $5,376 for its portion of the building, which was actually Coldstream’s library branch until it closed 20 years ago. That number is jumping to $6,253, effective Jan. 1, 2013.

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