The ever-worsening conditions of a homeless encampment on the north end of Vernon has sparked frustration from members of council.
Coun. Kelly Fehr has requested help on getting the encampment (located on Highway 97, near the Swan Lake Nature Reserve) cleaned up.
㽶ƵֱWe have a report from the BX fire chief (Bill Wacey), stating the area is actually a hazmat site due to the garbage,㽶Ƶֱ said Fehr at the Monday, Nov. 6 council meeting. 㽶ƵֱIt㽶Ƶֱs leaching into a natural bird sanctuary and he won㽶Ƶֱt send his team in unless they have oxygen. I believe we need to take some more action and apply provincial pressure. Every 50 feet is a latrine, it is disgusting and I don㽶Ƶֱt think we should be satisfied that we are doing everything that we can.㽶Ƶֱ
The area of the encampment does not fall under the City of Vernon or RDNO㽶Ƶֱs jurisdiction. Rather, it is in the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) area.
㽶ƵֱIt㽶Ƶֱs clear who is supposed to be doing the cleaning, but they aren㽶Ƶֱt,㽶Ƶֱ said Coun. Brian Guy. 㽶ƵֱSo, I would sure like to take some initiative to push this forward with the MOTI as I think we need to pursue this.㽶Ƶֱ
Patti Bridal, the city㽶Ƶֱs chief administrative officer, explained that they have already done what they can to put pressure on the MOTI to cleanup.
㽶ƵֱWe are in pretty much constant communication with MOTI. We have done extensive work with MOTI and the rail line, CP, to clean up that area and it takes lots of time to get them to do something. I think we are doing all that we can do in terms of the administrative side.㽶Ƶֱ
Coun. Guy asked if the city could do something themselves, then send the bill to MOTI.
㽶ƵֱIt㽶Ƶֱs unattractive and paints the city in a bad light and paints the picture that we don㽶Ƶֱt care about our city. It㽶Ƶֱs frustrating, we get negative feedback on it and we can㽶Ƶֱt influence it.㽶Ƶֱ
Coun. Mund countered that the city does go and clean it up 㽶Ƶֱit is going to become ours and Vernon taxpayers are going to be paying for it.㽶Ƶֱ
㽶ƵֱI don㽶Ƶֱt think it is a good idea. It㽶Ƶֱs an issue for MOTI and they should be dealing with it.㽶Ƶֱ
There is also another new encampment, set up in the back of Kal Tire Place, that Coun. Gares requested the city look into.
The RDNO㽶Ƶֱs next meeting is on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 4 p.m. where the topic will be discussed.
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