Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Coldstream wants more time for master water plan

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Updated: June 11, 2013 8:16 AM
Some officials are calling for more time to hammer out Greater Vernon’s master water plan. Coldstream council believes the Interior Health Authority should extend the June 30 deadline by a few weeks so the plan can be finalized. “The politicians haven’t had time to vet it all,” said Coun. Maria Besso. “We have to take into account the taxpayers and what they can afford.” A technical committee meets today to discuss specific plan details and it will go before the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee for consideration Thursday. Significant effort has gone into developing the document, but Mayor Jim Garlick admits there should be additional time ensure all issues are addressed. “We’ve narrowed it down significantly from all of the options,” he said. “It would be nice to look at all of the details so we are comfortable with the direction we are taking.” Financials are one aspect of the plan still in flux and those could be finalized by the end of July. The process originally included nine options for providing water to Greater Vernon. At this point, the preferred option calls for partial separation for irrigation and domestic uses, with treatment at the Duteau Creek and Mission Hill plants. Total capital costs would be about $105.6 million, with annual operating costs of $1.5 million. If IHA does not change the deadline, the Regional District of North Okanagan will consider approval of the master water plan June 19.
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Thursday's GVAC Agenda:  Agenda

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