District offers labour to demolish signs

by Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star posted Oct 4, 2015 at 1:00 AM

Coldstream won’t be footing the bill, but will provide some manpower to knock down welcome signs which Vernon wants moved. Vernon is taking over responsibility for the Welcome to Greater Vernon signs, which were put up just seven years ago. The ones at Swan Lake and on Highway 6 would remain but the plan is to remove the southern sign from above Kalamalka Lake to an area by the army camp because that area is within the city’s boundaries. Since Coldstream contributed to installing the sign, Vernon had hoped it would contribute to hiring a wrecking ball. “They estimate $2,000 to do the work,” said Coldstream Mayor Jim Garlick. The district has agreed to contribute in-kind to the demolition by providing trucking materials to the dump. “In kind, not money, we’ll do the labour,” said Coun. Doug Dirk. Vernon was seeking support from the electoral areas to also help fund the demolition, but Garlick points out that it is not their responsibility. “Areas B (BX-Swan Lake) and C (BX-Silver Star) did not participate in that grant, it was Vernon and Coldstream.”