Dangerous trees at Kin

Photo: Teresa Durning

A number of dangerous trees have been found at Kin Beach.

Three trees affected by spring flooding at Kin beach have become dangerous and need to be chopped down, but the problem could be much more extensive than that.

Members of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee learned Thursday there were a number of trees in local parks that could be dangerous and an assessment needed to be carried out.

“With flooding this year, there are quite a number of dangerous trees,” said David Sewell, chief administrative officer, for the North Okanagan Regional District, pointing to other areas, including BX Creek Trail and Camp Hurlburt.

Sewell stressed that it was an expensive fix, there was no budget and that the trees would have to be “prioritized.”

But Vernon director Akbal Mund pointed out that an assessment had already been done at Kin where an arborist hired by the City of Vernon pointed to three trees that needed to come down immediately at a cost of approximately $10,000.

“Why do we have to send someone to do another assessment?” Mund asked.

When GVAC chair Juliette Cunningham asked if there was money in the budget for the project, Sewell replied, “The answer is no.”

“What options do we have?” asked Mike Macnabb, electoral area C director. “Do we run out with yellow tape and say 'do not enter'? Do we cough up 10 grand? What would be the next step in this?”

Sewell said a comprehensive risk assessment could be accomplished through the fall with implications for next year's budget prompting an outburst from Vernon director Bob Spiers.

“If there is an immediate risk, let's damn well do something about it,” Spiers said.

Macnabb said the Ministry of Forests might do the job for free. Meanwhile staff are to request a risk assessment of Greater Vernon trails.