By Tom Mark

Armstrong Disagrees With Vernon On RCMP Costs

May 29, 2018 | 10:32 AM

A meeting was scheduled for this morning over who pays the cost of certain RCMP support services in Armstrong, Coldstream and Spallumcheen.

Vernon says it’s been subsidizing 300 thousand dollars a year in costs for services including court liaison, watch clerks, general investigation support and detention facilities.

It wants those communities to start paying for that.

Armstrong Mayor Chris Pieper says as far as Armstrong is concerned, Vernon’s issue is with the Solicitor General’s Ministry.

“We’ve all signed contracts with the Solicitor General’s department to supply policing services through the City of Vernon, which is a regional policing.”

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Pieper says Armstrong believes that contract with the government covers the cost, while Vernon doesn’t.

“I can see Vernon’s take on it as well, but it’s more of a problem between the city of Vernon and the Solicitor General’s department I believe than it is between Coldstream, Spall and Armstrong.”

He says it’s up to the Ministry and the RCMP to decide what’s what.

Pieper says the five year contract Armstrong recently signed with the Solicitor General’s ministry covers three police officers, support staff as well as paying for the building they use.

Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund says a letter was sent to the three jurisdictions about a month ago stating they had until July 1st to agree to making payments.

If they didn’t those integrated services will come to an end.

Mund says this isn’t something new.

He says the City has been trying to get a deal on this since 2014.

by Tom Mark