Skip to content

Summer Stomp gets nod

The 2012 version of the annual Summer Stomp in Silver Creek is a go – despite RCMP concerns about liquor control and access.

The 2012 version of the annual Summer Stomp in Silver Creek is a go – despite RCMP concerns about liquor control and access.

Columbia Shuswap Regional District development services assistant Dan Passmore advised directors at the June 21 board meeting that organizers had submitted their plans by the June 1 deadline and, after some revisions, documents were accepted.

He added organizers had agreed to erect a six-foot interlock fence around the entire property, with a 25-foot area to be kept free for emergency services personnel and evacuation staff.

“Organizers continue to work with the other agencies and hopefully in doing so they meet the terms of agreement and stage a happy, safe event,” Passmore said. “This is just an update to indicate agreements are in place and plans are signed. The onus is on the event organizers to make sure they comply with the agencies.”

Area D Falkland/Silver Creek/Ranchero director René Talbot said he has continued to field emails and phone calls from Silver Creek residents concerned about noise and wanting to know the music would be shut down at midnight.

Talbot again complained about 11th-hour planning by stomp organizers and suggested a community meeting be held early next year to give residents an opportunity to air their concerns and have them addressed.

Talbot says his only other concern is protection of the Salmon River, which runs along the property.

“We spent a lot of money on the Salmon River, I don’t want garbage thrown in,” he said. “I will be going, but not in leather. I like to go out and see that they’re following the rules and, if they don’t, they won’t be having one next year.”

That would suit Sgt. David Evans, Rural Operations NCO at the RCMP’s Vernon/North Okanagan Detachment.

In a June 20 follow-up letter to CSRD, Evans addresses the issue of seeking approval of the RCMP and complying with RCMP recommendations, as set out in the regional district’s proposed use agreement for the stomp.

“There seems to be some confusion around the ‘approval’ aspect, and if the CSRD board is still requiring RCMP approval as an aspect of the proposed agreement, I must reiterate that I do not approve of the current security plan and I do not believe steps have been taken to comply with recommendations,” he wrote.

Evans says his number-one concern is a failure by stomp organizers to acquire a liquor licence that would have restricted liquor consumption to a designated area.

"Security and drink services persons would have been in a position to assess sobriety and restrict sales where applicable,” Evans writes, noting serving intoxicated people is illegal.

“I have recommended that organizers clearly mark and identify the camping area and use signs advising that no alcohol is permitted outside that area.”

Evans further recommends organizers use volunteer security to ensure alcohol is not consumed outside of an individual’s camping area.

“This is a recommendation that they may attempt to achieve, but with the setting of the event, the volunteer use of security, and camping being on the same site as the event itself, it will not likely be accomplished.”

Second on Evans’ list of concerns is the fact that even if organizers carry out their plans to install fencing, knowing who is entering or leaving will be difficult.

The remoteness of the proposed site is also an issue that could result in delayed response time of police or other emergency services, he notes. Also on the sergeant’s list of concerns is the lack of detail in a plan by stomp organizers to offer a shuttle bus service.

“...The details of this need to be added to their plan and designed in such a way as to provide a viable option for persons wanting to depart,” he wrote. “The other concern about the shuttle service is that it will be available during the day to transport attendees to an area liquor store to pick up more alcohol if required. While this seems to provide a service that would reduce impaired driving, it also promotes alcohol consumption at the unlicensed site.”