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Wednesday, April 10, 2013
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Sports facility faces fast track RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
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Lindsay Siedmann gives her daughter Peyton, three, a lift as they leave the polling station Saturday at BX Elementary School. About 8,220 Greater Vernon residents cast ballots in the referendum to borrow up to $7.5 million for a sports facility.
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what people needed.” Rob Sawatzky, Vernon mayor, also welcomes the referendum outcome. “It’s a positive thing for the community,” he said. “It’s easier to be negative and tear things down than it is to build.” Many residents expressed concerns about the proposal, including whether another site should have been considered and if a sports facility was needed during economically challenging times. Questions also arose about the actual financial impact on an average residence. “There was a lot of enthusiasm on both sides of the issue,” said Patrick Nicol, RDNO chairperson.
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Given the close vote, Mike Macnabb, Greater Vernon Advisory Committee chairperson, says there is still a need to keep open communication with residents who opposed the plan. “I’m surprised at how little knowledge people had of the process and why it won’t be at Kin Race Track,” he said. “We need to reach out to people who voted no.” With a total of 45,000 eligible voters in Greater Vernon, turnout was about 18 per cent Saturday. “It’s a healthy sample of the size of the community. It’s a lot of people taking time out of their day to be involved in the community,” said Nicol.
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With voter approval in place, officials are now focused on bringing Greater Vernon’s sports complex to life. It’s anticipated construction could begin this fall on the running track and sports fields next to Okanagan College. “We have to get the shovels in the ground fairly quick,” said Bill Tarr, chairperson of the steering committee that promoted the concept to voters. Out of 8,220 participants, 4,303, or 52.3 per cent of voters, agreed to borrow up to $7.5 million Saturday to construct the facility. There was a total of 3,917 no votes or 47.7 per cent. Part of the pre-construction process already underway is an archeological study. That will then be followed by detailed design work and then tendering construction contracts. The terms of the Agricultural Land Commission agreeing to a non-farm use within the Agricultural Land Reserve include construction being completed by November 2014. “Our deadline is realistic,” said Tannis Nelson, Regional District of North Okanagan community development coordinator. Strict timelines are also set out in the lease agreement between the regional district and Okanagan College. However, Coldstream Mayor Jim Garlick expects there won’t be any stumbling blocks, even if work has to proceed past November 2014. “Everyone will be reasonable. The college will be and the ALC will be,” he said. Okanagan College is leasing the land to RDNO for $1 a year. “The college believes the sports facility will provide significant benefits to its students and employees and to the Greater Vernon community,” said Jane Lister, campus dean. The primary reasons put forward for the facility were meeting the needs of track and football clubs because of the present lack of adequate facilities, and allowing Greater Vernon to host major events. “I am thrilled people see the positive vision and how this will improve the community,” said Tarr. “We did a good job of getting people the information they wanted and we listened to
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