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Kelowna  

Rail vote: pick your side

Lake Country voters have one last chance to make their feelings known on the proposed purchase of the defunct CN Rail corridor.

Voters are being asked to determine whether they wish to allow the municipality to borrow up to $2.6 million to buy half the 16-kilometre corridor running through the community. A yes vote would mean taxes for the average property owner would rise by about $27 a year.

Interest in the process has been high, with more than 2,800 votes already being cast. That makes this the largest turnout for any vote ever held in the municipality.

It has also evoked strong feelings from both sides of the debate. No less than six organizations or individuals have registered with Elections BC as advertising sponsors, four on the yes side and two on the no side.

Proponents of the purchase point to this being a once in a lifetime opportunity to preserve "priceless parkland" and an opportunity to capitalize on rail trail tourism.

Those on the no side counter with a need to spend money on more pressing infrastructure needs and a desire to know the true cost beyond just the purchase price.

The Lake Country Rail Trail Action Team recently produced Five Reasons to Vote Yes. They include:

  • Priceless Parkland - The 16-kilometre stretch of rail corridor within Lake Country boundaries includes 105 acres of parkland with seven kilometres of waterfront property
  • Rail Trail Tourism - Rail trail industry experts predict the number of Okanagan rail Trail users will grow to about 125,000 a year by 2015 with annual spending of about $7.5 million.
  • Health and Prosperity - The rail trail will enable and encourage a variety of healthy outdoor activities year-round for people of all ages and abilities.
  • Green Transportation - The rail trail will enable safe and accessible commuting for cyclists from all communities along the route for much of the year.
  • Community Identity - The rail trail, and the social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits it provides, will greatly enhance the lure of Lake Country for residents and visitors alike.

Team chair Duane Thomson claims research has shown communities from around the world with rail trails benefit in a variety of ways from social and cultural vitality and environmental resilience to economic prosperity.

He encourages residents not to be "fooled" by any misinformation they may have encountered.

Guy Bissonette with Taxpayers 4 Responsible Tax counters that, while he agrees the rail trail would be a great luxury for the community to have, the municipality simply can't afford it.

Bissonette claims it will take about $30 million (district figures) just to upgrade roads in the municipality. He said to do just that would require a tax increase of $300 for the average taxpayer over the next 20 years.

"Kelowna can afford to go ahead and repave roads and do those sorts of repairs – and they can buy a rail trail –because they've got cash. Where here, we are we can't afford to do any of our road repairs and our mayor wants to borrow money to buy a rail trail. That's it in a nutshell."

Bissonette said it's nice that other cities like New York have a large trail network, but points out they are not small municipalities with a tax base of 12,000.

"Plus we're going to get hit, I think in 2018, when they want a new fire hall. They are going to want to have a referendum to borrow money for that," added Bissonette.

"I would be all in favour of that because it's public safety, as are roads."

Bissonette said he is optimistic the No side can prevail in this referendum.

While the Yes side has run a loud and vocal campaign, he believes the No side represents the silent majority.

He said an open house at the high school that garnered about 150 people and a rally that drew about 300 are, to him, low turnouts.

Voters in Lake Country will have the final say.

Polls open Saturday at 8 a.m. and will remain open until 8 p.m. at George Elliot Secondary School.

Results are expected sometime after 10 p.m. tomorrow night.



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