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Vernon frustrated with 91Ƶdisgusting91Ƶ conditions of encampment

91ƵEvery 50 feet is a latrine91Ƶ: Coun. Quiring
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Fires are on ongoing issue at homeless encampments near the CN railway on the north end of Vernon. (Jennifer Smith/Morning Star)

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.

91ƵWe have a report from the BX fire chief (Bill Wacey), stating the area is actually a hazmat site due to the garbage,91Ƶ said Fehr at the Monday, Nov. 6 council meeting. 91ƵIt91Ƶs leaching into a natural bird sanctuary and he won91Ƶt 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 don91Ƶt think we should be satisfied that we are doing everything that we can.91Ƶ

The area of the encampment does not fall under the City of Vernon or RDNO91Ƶs jurisdiction. Rather, it is in the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) area.

91ƵIt91Ƶs clear who is supposed to be doing the cleaning, but they aren91Ƶt,91Ƶ said Coun. Brian Guy. 91ƵSo, I would sure like to take some initiative to push this forward with the MOTI as I think we need to pursue this.91Ƶ

Patti Bridal, the city91Ƶs chief administrative officer, explained that they have already done what they can to put pressure on the MOTI to cleanup.

91ƵWe 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.91Ƶ

Coun. Guy asked if the city could do something themselves, then send the bill to MOTI.

91ƵIt91Ƶs unattractive and paints the city in a bad light and paints the picture that we don91Ƶt care about our city. It91Ƶs frustrating, we get negative feedback on it and we can91Ƶt influence it.91Ƶ

Coun. Mund countered that the city does go and clean it up 91Ƶit is going to become ours and Vernon taxpayers are going to be paying for it.91Ƶ

91ƵI don91Ƶt think it is a good idea. It91Ƶs an issue for MOTI and they should be dealing with it.91Ƶ

There is also another new encampment, set up in the back of Kal Tire Place, that Coun. Gares requested the city look into.

The RDNO91Ƶs next meeting is on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 4 p.m. where the topic will be discussed.

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Bowen Assman

About the Author: Bowen Assman

I joined The Morning Star team in January 2023 as a reporter. Before that, I spent 10 months covering sports in Kelowna.
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