No break on water for fire training centre

Nov 6, 2020 | 9:32 AM

A request for the North Okanagan Fire Training Centre (NOFTC) for a break on the cost of water has been denied.

The centre unknowingly got a financial break when one of two meters wasn’t being read by fire centre staff, and went unnoticed from 2017 to early 2019 by Greater Vernon Water.

$7,200 was spent last year on water and just $3,200 so far this year, due to less training at the centre on Pottery Road.

“The tiered for conservation relationship here doesn’t work,” Vernon Mayor Victor Cumming told the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee (GVAC). “We are trying to get the centre used more and that takes water.”

“Rate structures keep everyone on notice that they don’t overdo it. It’s a cost of doing business and they need to budget accordingly,” Coldstream Mayor Jim Garlick said.

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The centre was established in 1991 to train area fire departments and attract other B.C. departments on a fee for service basis.

“Best practise is that utilities charge any, and all, organizations consuming water,” David Sewell Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) Chief Administrative Officer said. “We charge ourselves full rates for city halls, parks and fire halls. The only unmetered water is from fire hydrants when fighting an active fire.”

A motion to receive the request, with no further action taken, was passed by GVAC directors.

by Kevin Rothwell

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