Former Councillor Urges Action On Track

Written by Peter McIntyre 105.7 KISSFM Wednesday, 14 January 2015 16:15
Vernon council is being encouraged to find a solution to the legal stalemate at Kin Race Track. The city-owned facility, which includes a horse racing track, has been the subject of legal action over usage by the Okanagan Equestrian Society for several years. During input on this year's budget, resident and former city councillor Barry Beardsell urged council to get something done, noting that land is needed for future parking and recreation. "You should put money in the budget and go to court and get that resolved once and for all, because if you don't go to court, it will never get resolved," says Beardsell who provided 25 minutes of questions, suggestions and complaints to council. Councillor Catherine Lord would also like to see a solution. "When we're looking at twinning Kal Tire Place, I think we need to make a determination of what we're going to be able to do with Kin Race Track. It has to be be resolved. It can't just stay in limbo," Lord tells Kiss FM. Lord says council will be talking about the options at a planning session next month. "There's staff looking at the options now. It's a matter of either a pay-out, or some sort of agreement with the association," says Lord. Among Beardsell's other beefs are plans to add trial roundabouts on 25th Street and the ongoing subsidy to O'Keefe Ranch. "This has got to come to an end soon (the $150,000 annual grant to the ranch), or our partners that don't ever come to the plate and pay, like Coldstream, (Electoral Areas) B and C, and Spallumcheen, should be kicking in some money in that," says Beardsell. Among the two other people to give input to council at today's special budget meeting was resident and regular council attendee David Miller. He supported council's current direction and encouraged the elected reps to continue to make volunteerism a priority. "We must promote and support more volunteer fire fighters as well as other emergency response volunteers. Our current career fire fighting force must be engaged in recruiting, training and retaining a robust, full time volunteer network," says Miller. The budget calls for a 3.7% tax hike, 1.8 percent for services and 1.9 % for infrastructure.