Lumby residents could soon know if they are in the running for a correctional facility.
Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA, met with Public Safety Minister Shirley Bond Wednesday to discuss the process for determining a location for an Okanagan prison.
“They will start evaluating the applicants immediately,” said Foster.
“The minister would like a recommendation from staff by the end of June.”
Once a community is identified, the municipal council and the government would enter into negotiations on grants in lieu of taxes and infrastructure funding.
Issues of zoning and land acquisition would also have to be tackled.
Based on the complexities of negotiations, Foster says there is no guarantee a prison will proceed even if a site has been selected.
Foster and Bond also spoke briefly about the division among Lumby residents over a proposed jail.
“One of the criteria being examined by the ministry is the desire of a community to have a facility,” he said.
“That will be a consideration in any decision.”
During Saturday’s referendum, 56 per cent of those who voted in the village said yes to a prison while 44 per cent said no.
In adjacent Area D of the North Okanagan Regional District, 34 per cent voted yes while 66 per cent voted no.
Village council decided 4-1 Monday to pursue development of a correctional facility.
Mayor Kevin Acton is pleased with the ministry’s timeline.
“It means they are serious and getting down to business,” said Acton.
“I hope they will whittle the number of applicants down and we’re still in the mix.”
Lumby Concerned Citizens, which opposes a prison, was hoping the ministry would make a decision before June.
“The sooner this is decided, the sooner people can get back on with life,” said Randy Rauck, spokesperson.
Foster says he did use his meeting with Bond to lobby on behalf of Lumby.
“I supported the village’s application going forward, but pushing it one way or the other, no,” he said.
The other communities interested in hosting a minimum-security, 360-cell facility in the Okanagan are Summerland and Penticton.
Penticton will hold a referendum on the issue June 18.
“If they are going to a referendum, they will have a bit of a (time) issue because ministry staff is starting evaluations,” said Foster.
