The acquisition of the old CN rail corridor by Lake Country marks the most important event in what was a newsworthy year for the district which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2015.
Mayor James Baker, whose council had to go to electors twice in 2015 to seek approval to borrow the funds to purchase the CN corridor, says the acquisition of the corridor sets the table for Lake Country’s future.
“I think it was a big step forward for us because as much as there was a negative to the purchase, we really are looking forward by that purchase,” said Baker.
“It will be an asset to the community and the whole valley for years to come.”
As Baker said, the year started with a bang with the failed alternate approval process, where more than 10 per cent of the community signed a petition against the purchase of the CN corridor, which ultimately cost Lake Country $2.6 million as well as the $2.6 million it received from Kelowna. After the AAP failed, council decided to move to referendum and the borrowing bylaw was passed with about 75 per cent of voters in favour of the move.
“This was the biggest issue for Lake Country last year,” said Baker of the $22 million total purchase from CN. “We were certainly pleased that it went through.”
Amidst the ongoing CN corridor acquisition were a myriad of other issues surrounding the community.
Residents who were concerned with tax hikes saw the CN corridor purchase added to their tax bills and later in the year, the Transportation For Tomorrow financial plan adopted, with its tax hit coming over a 20-year period. At the close of the calendar, council was also contemplating a 2.85 per cent tax hike in 2016.
“We’re a growing community and people want the services,” said Baker.
“We have increased the assets considerably with the amount growth that we have so we don’t have to raise taxes to the extent we used to have to. The tax rate isn’t going up excessively but enough to cover the services that we have. Our taxes are still the second lowest in the valley, maybe the lowest.”
Late in 2015, Lake Country finally adopted the financial plan for its 20-year $30 million dollar Transportation For Tomorrow Plan. The document lays the groundwork for the upgrade of Lake Country’s transportation network over the next two decades and will begin in 2016. The district has also begun work on the parks and recreation plan and a review of the official community plan proceeds in 2016
Last year also saw negotiations continue between Lake Country and the Ministry of Transportation on the transfer of the old Highway 97/Pelmewash Parkway to the district.
There was no public movement on the issue but Baker believes the deal will be complete in 2016, giving Lake County ownership of the old highway and creating the potential for a recreational trail around Wood Lake.
“I think the ministry and the district are pretty close to signing an agreement,” said Baker about Pelmewash.
We have been far apart but now we are much closer in terms of what we are asking to be done and what the province wanted to spend.”
With CN having until early 2017 to finish remediation work on the corridor and with no firm plans (or money stream) to develop Pelmewash, any open-to-the public route that combines those two stretches of land remains a long-term vision.
“Five years from now, we will be looking at quite a different community in terms of safety for pedestrians and cyclists. We will be cycling all around Wood Lake, if people want to, on safe cycling and pedestrian paths once we get Pelmewash done and the corridor developed,” said Baker, who added that the most important ongoing work in 2016 will be continuing to improve safety on municipal roads.
“We’re continuing our day-to-day operations to bring in a budget that will see a lot more done. We’re working on making it safer for people, not just on the main corridors but around the schools.”
