A consultant hired to conduct a regional emergency program review for the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen was not present when the report was presented before the board.
The 80-page report from Sundog Solutions was included in the regional district’s protective services committee agenda package for June 1.
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Sundog is owned by Amanda Newell, daughter of Bill Newell, chief administrative officer with the regional district.
Neither Newell was present when the report was considered. Instead, Mark Woods, general manager of community services, dealt with the report.
Numerous directors with the regional district voiced their frustration that the contractor was not present.
Bob Coyne, director for Electoral Area H, said the report states the regional district has acted on just 22 of 170 recommendations. He wondered why the board has not been told more staffing or more resources were needed.
Rick Knodel, director for Electoral Area C, said labour costs will have an effect.
“There isn’t a lot of labour out in the pool anymore, so just going out and hiring people is going to become an issue,” he said.
Subrina Monteith, the director for Electoral Area I, said she wanted to get specific answers to questions she had. She added that she has concerns about the next steps now that the report is completed. For instance, she said Apex was evacuated last year, but the report did not have information about mitigation or other forestry issues.
She said communities that had been recently affected should have been contacted before the report was completed.
Riley Gettens, director for Electoral Area F, said there is a need for a conversation about the report.
“I’m disappointed that we don’t have the consultant here to speak with,” said Princeton mayor Spencer Coyne.
“We cannot let this just sit on a shelf and collect dust.”
The board voted to request a meeting with a representative from the company and to form a working group to examine the recommendations. The meeting with the consultant will meean an additional cost for the regional district.
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