Lumby is still patiently waiting a decision that could make or break the village, depending on who you talk to.
The provincial government has once again stated that a decision is looming on which Okanagan community will be getting a correctional facility – Lumby, Summerland, the Penticton Indian Band and the Osoyoos Indian Band are all pursuing the prison bid.
While some outspoken residents, and councillors, are not in favour of a prison in their town, mayor Kevin Acton is confident that Lumby could gain significant benefits.
“That’s why we went after the correctional facility in the first place,” said Acton, of a boost to the tax base and possibly getting the province to pay for infrastructure and water out to the industrial park.
“If the services are already there, other companies can afford to come in.”
But Acton is mindful that some aren’t so keen to see a prison be built in the area.
“I’m not saying that the community wants it but the taxpayers for the Village of Lumby voted that they wanted it,” he said of the referendum where 56 per cent of Lumby residents voted yes to the prospect of a prison, while 66 per cent of outlying Area D residents voted no.
Putting the prison issue aside while a decision is awaited, for now Acton is focusing on other local projects that will give the region an economic boost.
All he has to do is look across the street from the village office to see such work in progress.
After years of lobbying, ground-breaking work has begun at the corner of Glencaird Street and Norris Avenue for a 46-bed care facility. The building will not only give aging residents the option of possibly staying in Lumby, but it is anticipated to bring work to town.
“They should be up and running by 2012 and they’re looking at 50 to 60 jobs,” said Acton, of the inSite- managed facility.
More jobs are hoped to come out of another project Lumby is working on.
Working with the Splatsin First Nation, Lumby has applied to the province for 20,000 cubic metres of community forest up Trinity Valley Road. The goal is to expand the area in future years.
When it comes to timber, Acton says: “they’re not just two-by-fours and two-by-sixes. Pretty much anything you can make out of oil you can make out of trees.”
Therefore the village is investigating alternative uses of wood that can be produced locally.
“We’re trying to get some of that fiber to stay in our area because all of this timber that is going through town used to stop and get processed here in town.”
Lumby also has some recreational improvements on tap.
Retiling to the outdoor pool and other upgrades are hoped to provide a permanent fix to the ongoing maintenance problems.
The region is also considering some other major recreational upgrades, but that would force a five per cent tax hike on residents.
