Victor Cumming, Mayor of Vernon (Vernon Matters file photo)

By Liam Verster

Year in Review

Major project starts, delivering services key highlight’s for Vernon Mayor

Dec 23, 2024 | 6:00 AM

Victor Cumming had a lot of highlights to reflect on for 2024.

Speaking with Vernon Matters, the Mayor of Vernon said the city accomplished a lot this past year.

“I think the highlight in 2024 is maintaining services, that is the key of what we do, people pay their taxes to get services met and that’s always the focus of most of our staff and most of our energy to keep normal services operating well, whether that’s sewer or drinking water or roads, rec facilities, parks, that really is the focus of our efforts,” Cumming said.

“On the new side, of course breaking ground on the Active Living Centre (ALC), really a very significant project, probably the largest capital investment in Vernon’s history, in terms of dollars. So that’s very significant. People can go by and see the stairway tower is being built and the elevator shafts, et cetera, are all underway.

“The Lakeview Park Peanut Pool was an amazing success in 2024, more than 14,000 people used it , primarily kids, so just a tremendous success getting that opening and operating up on East Hill.”

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Cumming added other highlights from the year were adding more firefighters and a FireSmart coordinator to oversee and address fire concerns in the community; completing Phase 1 of the Vernon Creek Naturalization Project in Polson Park; completing infrastructure projects such as the Creek Crossing bridge and the Silver Star Road Multi-Use Path; and building the new Becker Bike Park.

The Mayor said Vernon also hosted many cultural and sporting events, noting those would not have been able to go ahead without the hard work of local volunteers.

Cumming said the city did manage its money well in 2024, though acknowledged there had been some chatter and concerns raised about the 11.4 per cent tax increase for 2025.

“I think people are aware, they voted for the Active Living Centre, which we indicated would probably be 3.5 per cent increase for three years in a row to pay the capital costs, and there’s operating costs that we’re going to experience getting staff trained and ready to add significant staff to run a new facility,” Cumming told Vernon Matters.

“So all of that added to four per cent, and we did operations and stuff under four per cent, which was very successful in terms of a municipality our size. So that gives you eight per cent, and you haven’t paid the additional cost of the RCMP, more than 2.5 per cent added to us with new equipment, et cetera, that we just get a notice that we’re going to have to pay it.

“Basically you’re climbed up over 10 per cent right away, so we knew 2025 would be an expensive year for taxpayers in terms of the increase.”

The Mayor said Vernon did continue to face troubles with housing in 2024, particularly affordable or attainable housing, and while he noted that is a provincial mandate, he said the city did work with the public and private sectors to try to build more units.

Looking ahead to the new year, Cumming told Vernon Matters he wants to see the city to see infrastructure and capital projects continue to be done on-time and on-budget, complete the Official Community Plan and Transportation Plan completed, upgrade and enhance amenities across town, and see local events run smoothly and successfully.