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Arena sets sights on walking track RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Exercising at Wesbild Centre can be a real pain for some people. Hundreds of people walk around the concourse at the multi-use facility daily but the hard concrete surface is proving challenging. “It’s hard on the joints in general,” said Tannis Nelson, Regional District of North Okanagan community development co-ordinator. — Nelson Director Catherine Lord has also heard similar complaints. “A lot of seniors use the multiplex for walking and there are concerns about backaches,” she said. Nelson isn’t sure why the impact of concrete on people’s bodies wasn’t considered when Wesbild was built in 2001. Staff will consider possible options to address the situation, including possibly installing a rubber surface across the entire upper concourse of the facility. “We will look at other communities to see if they have done similar things so we make the right choice,” said Nelson. A key part of the review will be the potential cost of a surface and whether any private sector or government grants are available.
“It’s hard on the joints.”
LISA VANDERVELDE/MORNING STAR
The hard concrete surface is making exercising a pain for some walkers at Wesbild Centre so the regional district is considering options to improve the situation for the hundreds of people who use the facility. An outdoor running track is part of the proposed sports complex at Okanagan College, but even if that goes ahead,
Nelson believes walking will remain a popular activity inside Wesbild Centre due to the shelter provided.
“There are people who are more comfortable walking indoors for personal reasons or because of the weather,” she said.
Efforts to get water upgrade funding on tap RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Small water utilities are struggling with failing infrastructure and huge bills. The Regional District of North Okanagan is considering putting pressure on the federal government to help fund upgrades to the Grindrod, Gunter-Ellison, Mabel Lake, Silver Star and Whitevale utilities so customers are not burdened with skyrocketing rates. “There are so few users and they need support,” said Patrick Nicol, chairperson. In one case, $1.6 million is required to repair leaks on the Mabel Lake system east of Enderby. “We don’t have the funds. We will keep an eye on it and we will ultimately have to replace it,” said Zee Marcolin, utilities engineer. Whitevale’s reserves were eroded because of emergency works needed when a line corroded.
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“We (Mabel Lake) don’t have the funds.” — Zee Marcolin
Bob Fleming, Electoral Area Advisory Committee chairperson, is concerned about the situation. “The $1.6 million is just one example of other items that could overwhelm a utility,” he said. Besides aging equipment, the Interior Health Authority is expected to eventually demand expensive treatment improvements. That prospect could be daunting for the 10 customers in Gunter-Ellison, near Enderby, or the 52 connections in Grindrod.
To prepare for future works and address rising operating costs, higher rates are likely in 2013. It’s proposed user fees will climb an average of 1.9 per cent in Grindrod, $25 in Gunter-Ellison, 25 per cent at Mabel Lake, 3.2 per cent at Silver Star and 4.5 per cent at Whitevale. Of 23 small utilities in the Okanagan-Shuswap-Thompson region, Gunter-Ellison has the third highest rate at $1,607 a year, with Grindrod fifth at $1,334. At 15th is Whitevale at $620, while Silver Star is 20th at $346 and Mabel Lake is 21st at $335. Director Jackie Pearase says residents can’t avoid higher rates, but she believes there is a need for senior government to do more. “You can’t ignore this. You can’t keep your head in the sand and think people have the ability to afford this,” she said. “The impact in rural communities is no less important than in urban communities. Perhaps it’s more because they are closer to the environment and the water sources.”
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