TRUCKS TARGETED | Lumby RCMP investigate thefts from parked vehicles while owners are sledding [A7]
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
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Davies tops expense list
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RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
JOSE LAROCHELLE/MORNING STAR
Victoria Podollan of the Okanagan Rhythmic Gymnastics Club finishes her routine during a recent rhythmic gymnastics competition at Vernon Christian School.
Water park splashes to life RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Cooling off will become a lot more fun for Lumby youth. The community is moving ahead with a water spray park after the provincial government announced $348,258 for upgrades to Oval Park Tuesday. “It’s going to be amazing,” said Mayor Kevin Acton. “If we want youth in our community, we need facilities for them.” Presently, children have access to the swimming pool but it’s not well designed to handle toddlers. Besides the spray park for children, outdoor fitness equipment will be installed in Oval Park. “It’s a great project because it covers both ends of the demographic scale — children and adults,” said Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA, adding that
“If we want youth in our community, we need facilities for them.” — Kevin Acton the exercise equipment will be popular with seniors. “These kinds of projects enhance the community.” Foster believes it is important for the provincial government to assist communities with recreational amenities because of the cost of infrastructure. “Some times you get behind when you’re also having to deal with water, roads and sewer,” he said. The total price tag for the spray
park and fitness equipment will be $435,322, with Lumby and Cherryville taxpayers contributing $57,064. There will also be $30,000 from the Teddy’s Angels and Martin’s Devils ball teams and support from the Lumby Lions. “We are thankful these opportunities are available given the economic times,” said Rick Fairbairn, White Valley Parks and Recreation chairperson. “All of this provides an opportunity for the community to come together with a beautiful area the community can be proud of.” While there had been a concern about the spray park sending the wrong message about water conservation, Acton says any water used will be recycled. “We have to be responsible with our water and good stewards of the resource,” he said.
The third-place finisher in the race for Vernon mayor outspent his competitors combined. Patrick Davies had expenses of $31,208 during the November election, while $19,689 was spent by Rob Sawatzky, who led the polls, and incumbent Wayne Lippert, who came second, had $10,900 in expenses. “My intention was to get a replacement for the mayor at the time and it happened. If it took $31,000, it was a good deal,” said Davies. “It would have been nice to win. But the success was we got people who had never voted before excited.” Davies put significant personal resources into his campaign, according to documents filed with the City of Vernon. He contributed $7,639 while there was $5,000 from Latitude Marine which he owns and $5,050 from Naked Media which operates out of his Patrick Davies house. Other donations included $4,000 from Walter Davies, $2,000 from Aldebaran Enterprises and $1,500 from Brad Chapman. The biggest expenses for Davies were advertising, signs and pamphlets. “As a businessperson out of nowhere and a young guy, we had to get out there and give everything we had,” said Davies. Of his $19,689 in expenses, Sawatzky directed most of it to getting the word out through signs and advertising. “It’s the sad reality that this is what you have to do,” said Sawatzky of the dollars required to launch a campaign. Sawatzky pumped $13,500 of his own money into his inaugural run for mayor. “Given that I didn’t have a high profile and business roots, I was OK with picking up the cost,” said Sawatzky. “I was looking at it as community service.” Sawatzky received $4,600 in donations worth more than $100 and $408 valued less than $99. His donors included $750 from Lakeside Developments and $500 each from Cecil Schmidt, Victor Cumming and Robert Ross. Sawatzky says he still doesn’t know who some of his supporters were and those issues were left to his business agent. “The more independence you can have the better,” he said of serving as mayor. Like the other mayoralty candidates, Lippert’s spending focused on creating public awareness. He had $10,850 in contributions over $100 and $50 under $99 in value. Among the donors were $3,000 from Wesbild Holdings, $1,000 from R.L. Walker Contracting and $500 each from Tavistock Properties, Okanagan Spirits and the Vernon Professional Firefighters Association. Documents indicate Lippert provided $100. Lippert could not be reached for comment. Of the 15 councillor candidates, Patrick Nicol, who topped the polls, spent $13,233 of his own money. Lily Kerr, who came in 13th, spent the least at $297, with $300 being donated by 1&2 Electric.
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