Get the Top, Local stories delivered to your inbox! Click here to join the daily Vernon Matters newsletter.
RDNO Board Supports Conservation Fund

RDNO Board Supports Conservation Fund

Aug 16, 2018 | 1:19 PM

The Regional District of North Okanagan is a step closer to setting up a local conservation fund.

The RDNO Board approved the plan for the five electoral areas, Armstrong and Lumby.

Board Chair Bob Fleming says the fund would be used to raise seed money for conservation projects in those regions.

“I think a lot of them are probably related around water. Certainly I think that’s what both Lumby and Armstrong are looking at. They’ve got issues around water and water conservation, water management, flooding, those kinds of things.”

Fleming says it would initally be funded through a tax requisition once a bylaw is drawn up.

Lumby, Armstrong and the district`s 5 electoral areas would be involved in it with residents being taxed 2 cents per one thousand dollars of taxable land and improvements.

“That has another step to go before it would be approved. So it goes back for approval at the local council level first, now that it’s approved at the board. And then it has to be approved by the Inspector of Municipalities and get voter assent as well.”

If adopted, the Service Establishment Bylaw would be in effect for the 2019 Financial Plan.

Projects that could be covered by the fund would support environmental conservation and community sustainability.