The July 24 edition of the paper (Page A5) referred to the decision by the Regional District Of North Okanagan board to accept the recommendation from the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee not to hire an independent engineer to conduct a peer review of as requested by the Citizens For Changes To The Master Water Plan.
Alternate Vernon director Scott Anderson was the only dissenter.
A peer review is essential to oversight in a scenario such as this.
Vernon director Juliette Cunningham provided assurances that review of the plan would take place “each and every time a major investment in this plan happens.”
I would like to see what is characterized as a major investment in the future.
I have seen capital civic expenditures of a thousand dollars characterized in that way, and I have also seen a dismissive attitude in some cities which felt that $100,000 was not a major investment.
Personally, I suggest people keep an eye on capital outlays in the future and determine whether the reviews alluded to by Cunningham are forthcoming.
I feel that a peer review by an independent engineer is a sensible preemptive move that should have been supported, and the failure by the other directors to have to foresight to acknowledge that will come back to haunt them, and the taxpayers as well.
Time will tell.
Dean Roosevelt
Vernon
