By Corey Fischer

Tax Dollars For Rail Trail?

Sep 8, 2017 | 5:40 AM

A local politician would like to see the North Okanagan portion of the Okanagan Rail Trail, fast tracked.

Greater Vernon Advisory Director and Coldstream mayor Jim Garlick says current development of the trail is dictated by the amount of funds being raised by the non profit Rail Trail Society.

He says there may benefits to using public funds to finish it off quicker.

“It could involve using public money, so we could look at the idea of a referendum, or tax dollars, or an alternative approval method,” Garlick tells Kiss FM.

Garlick says the public wants to see the 12 kilometres of trail in the RDNO area up and running as soon as possible.

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“We got a good deal on that trail, $1.9 million for several kilometres of lakefront, and I think now, to get it up and useful is important. I think the public wants to see that.”

Under the current schedule, the northern portion could be completed by next summer.

“We need to talk with the fund raisers, and see how they feel about it, and if they’re fine with it, then we push this a little faster,” says Garlick.

GVAC chair Juliette Cunningham says she would like to see more information on what’s required from RDNO staff.

“We have to work within certain guidelines with Ministry of Environment, so we’ll get that report back. And if it looks like it’s something we could expedite, we can decide at that point if we want to provide the funds to do that, and recover it through the continued fundraising,” Cunningham told Kiss FM.

by Corey Fischer