Bid sparks water fight

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 6, 2015 at 1:00 AM

Emotions ran high as Greater Vernon politicians went head-to-head over water infrastructure. Director Gyula Kiss called for a moratorium on all master water plan expenditures and for those items to be removed from the 2015 Greater Vernon Advisory Committee budget Thursday. “I see this as a direct end-run around us already approving the budget,” said director Bob Fleming. Kiss argued the items should not proceed because a majority of voters did not back a November referendum to borrow $70 million for capital works. “If the master water plan has no funding, there is no master water plan,” he said. However, opposition came from director Mike Macnabb. “Everything we do to make things (water utility) more efficient came out of the master water plan. The referendum was defeated but the master water plan is still there.” Zee Marcolin, utility manager, told the committee that most projects outlined in the 2015 capital budget don’t include items from the master water plan. It was also pointed out that despite Kiss’ motion, the Regional District of North Okanagan board had already approved GVAC’s 2015 budget. “The majority of the people present passed the budget. By revisiting it now, we are rehashing something the majority has already decided,” said director Catherine Lord. Kiss had his supporters, though, including director Bob Spiers, who says the six projects in the master water plan should be stalled until the document can be revisited. “Are they completely necessary?” he said. Given the referendum results, director Scott Anderson suggested master water plan projects shouldn’t proceed, but vice-chairman Jim Garlick countered that the referendum was about borrowing $70 million. “It was not a vote on the master water plan,” said Garlick, adding the Interior Health Authority’s water quality standards must be met. Ultimately, Kiss’ motion was defeated. Also on Thursday, GVAC directors increased 2015 water rates by two per cent. “Two per cent is the lowest since I’ve been sitting here and it reflects what the service needs,” said Fleming.
------------
EDITORIAL: Water vote is over, move on
by Editorial - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 6, 2015 at 1:00 AM
Anxiety and downright hostility towards Greater Vernon’s failed $70 million water referendum still exists. However, those emotions can’t overshadow everything the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee does. On Thursday, director Gyula Kiss unsuccessfully attempted to have a moratorium placed on any master water plan expenditures and for those items to be pulled out of GVAC’s 2015 budget because the plan does not have electoral assent. “If the master water plan has no funding, there is no master water plan,” he said. However, one can make the argument that the master water plan is simply a blueprint for future works. Yes there is a need to reconsider the scope of the plan given the failed referendum but keep in mind that the works are mandated by the provincial government’s water quality guidelines, and they will proceed if funding is available. “Everything we do to make things (water utility) more efficient came out of the master water plan. The referendum was defeated but the master water plan is still there,” said director Mike Macnabb. And while there are some controversial items in the master water plan, such as filtration on Duteau Creek, others are relatively basic, such as promoting increased water conservation. Kiss’ motion, had it been successful, would have reopened GVAC’s 2015 budget, which has already received the green light from the Regional District of North Okanagan board. That would have possibly delayed the setting of water rates and proceeding with critical system upgrades this year. In the end, the outcome of the November referendum is known far and wide and the battle doesn’t need to be fought again. It’s time to move on.