Too Soon For Arena Vote Timeline

Written by 107.5 Kiss FM Thursday, 19 February 2015 17:48

Local government staff say there's still plenty of work to be done before a Greater Vernon arena referendum could be held. A meeting Wednesday led to provincial officials giving tentative approval to a new proposal for an ice sheet owned by the regional district to be leased back to the city of Vernon, if voters approve it. RDNO administrator David Sewell says there still some hurdles to get through with the province. "The alternative suggestion addresses their issue that says the regional district will have an asset on our books as well as a liability, but now there's some work that needs to be done in terms of crafting what the establishment bylaw would look like," says Sewell. Sewell says it's too early to say when a referendum could be put to the public. Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund, RDNO chair Rick Fairbairn and other local politicians met with Community Development Minister Coralee Oakes in Victoria Wednesday to talk about a borrowing referendum to add a second ice sheet at Kal Tire Place to replace the Civic Arena. The question was set to go to voters last fall until the province vetoed it over concerns the regional district wanted to expand a facility owned by the City of Vernon.