Complex Costs Demanded - Richard Rolke, Morning Star Nov 23 2007

Demands continue to grow for the costs for a proposed sports complex in Coldstream.

The Coldstream Ratepayers Association believes firm details figures for the project should be revealed prior to residents voting Dec. 15 on whether an application should be sent to the Agricultural Land Commission asking that the land use be changed to allow for sports facilities.

“Without it, it’s a blank cheque,” said Andy Danyliu, president.

“The people who pay have a right to know how much they will pay for those who play.”

Danyliu says the costs of the complex are directly tied to the referendum because if they are too high, there is no need to purchase the Aberdeen Road site or to build fields.

But Danyliu suspects there is a reason why the information will not been made public by GVSC prior to Dec. 15.

“If they tell us the real figures, people will defeat it,” he said.

But Greater Vernon Services Committee officials deny they are trying to hide anything.

“We honestly don’t have fixed costs because it will depend on timing,” said Gary Corner, GVSC chairman and Coldstream mayor.

A rough estimate from GVSC has been $6 to $7 million, but Corner insists that could change especially if engineering and soil work are done.

“Those can actually impact what we decide to put there,” he said.

“It will also depend on how much money the user groups provide and the project won’t happen overnight.”

Coldstream would contribute funds towards development of a sports complex but so would GVSC’s other participating jurisdictions — Vernon and Areas B and C.

In terms of purchasing the property, money would come from development cost charges (which developers pay into), the land acquisition reserve and funds from the 2005 parks borrowing referendum.

At this time, GVSC is not revealing the price of the Aberdeen Road site if the land deal proceeds.

“Coldstream Ranch (the owner) doesn’t want it disclosed and if the referendum doesn’t pass, we don’t want people with similar land knowing what we are willing to pay,” said Corner about the property negotiations.