Council questions whether Boonstock is a good idea for the city

PENTICTON – The topic of Boonstock caused a bit of a stir during this week’s council meeting when one councillor said she does not support the event.

During a discussion on issues arising from the Protective Services Advisory Committee, Coun. Katie Robinson said there was a lack of substance in the Boonstock plan.

Whenever there is a large festival, new RCMP files are opened, Robinson said. The cost of having extra RCMP officers on duty is paid by the organizers, but there is another cost for dealing with criminal cases opened as a result of poor behaviour at the festival, she said.

“I want to make sure taxpayers don’t end up footing the bill for something they had no part of,” she said.

Robinson suggested Boonstock organizers present their plan to council, more out of courtesy than anything else. She also said she was disappointed she was not invited to a walk-through of festival grounds last Friday.

Coun. Helena Konanz said she was also not invited but has her name on the list for the next walk-through. A few other councillors raised their hands to say they would also be attending the next walk-through of festival grounds to see the progress organizers are making and to get a progress update.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Meaghan Archer at marcher@infotelnews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.