Shawn Whitty, operations manager, Apex Mtn. Resort. Left Roger Mayer, rancher, former politician and all round go-to-him kind of guy.

So what’s the story. Two weeks ago RDOS directors gave Mayer an indication that his request for gas tax money to study and fix parts of the Nickle Plate Dam would not be approved.

Even the CAO of the Regional District Bill Newell had argued against such a move as one that “invites trouble”.

History: Nickle Plate dam was built in the ’60’s for the mine above Hedley. It morphed into a back up for ranchers in the valley below when water from the Similkameen was not plentiful. It also stored water for Apex Mtn.

Roger Mayer points out that the volume of the water for Apex is 1/16 of the need. The rest comes down the hills to help ranchers sprinkle the hay fields. Shawn Whitty told the board Apex uses 30 million gallons of water for drinking and snow making.

A recent report by Golder and Associates (ordered by the government after the Testalinda Dam broke in 2012) states the integrity of the dam is okay but some remedial work would enhance the safety of people living downstream of it. The dam because of age is in the high risk category and a further assessment is needed to be completed.

So the Similkameen Improvement District (owner of the dam) wants and needs $50 thousand for a further study on remedial action and does not want to charge its customers more to pay for it. Mayer pointed out that the wild Similkameen carries more water than the Okanagan system but has no “gang of lakes” to store water. (Okanagan-Skaha-Vaseux-Osoyoos)

Regional District directors okayed the plan today but not without opposition.

You could see how disappointed Bill Newell was and West Bench Director Michael Brydon had all the quotable quotes: “This is a Band-Aid solution”. “It’s like a finger in the dyke.”.

Naramata Director Karla Kozakevich said the positive decision to grant the money out of next years budget may open the gate to further claims and requests. Bill Newell said the request was for Gas Tax funds but a grant-in-aide might work better for the District.

Area D Director Tom Siddon (Apex) said the monies will be used for preventative measures, disaster mitigation and the work is needed in his area. Area B Director George Bush said the work is needed and it is time to expand our reservoirs.

The motion passed 11-6.