A Coldstream politician isn’t thrilled with taxpayers providing a donation to a local organization.
Council has decided the district’s $55,000 share of the surplus from the disbandment of the North Okanagan Hospital District be given to the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation.
“When you take money from the taxpayer and you get some of it back, they (taxpayer) should enjoy the benefit,” said Coun. Gyula Kiss, who was the only member of council to raise his hand in opposition.
“The donation should be done by individual residents,” he said.
Mayor Jim Garlick defends the decision to provide the money to the foundation.
“The hospital is something we all use,” he said.
“This money is surplus from a defunct service so to use it for medical equipment is important.”
Free space provided
Coldstream will provide the University of Victoria’s chronic pain self-management program free use of the Women’s Institute Hall.
“We want to provide a workshop in your community,” Carol Sicoli, program co-ordinator, told council members.
The free six-week workshop runs once a week for two-and-a-half hours.
The non-profit group relies on volunteers to conduct the sessions.
The financial impact from providing free space is about $375.
“It’s a good program. It’s a service residents can use,” said Mayor Jim Garlick.