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Okanagan politician frosty over snowman

City councillor says owners could have been 91Ƶhandled a lot better91Ƶ
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The City of Vernon has allowed Vernon Teach and Learn to keep Frosty on 30th Avenue, but the store will have to pay for a permit to display the snowman next year. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

A 91ƵFrosty91Ƶ situation in Vernon has left a local politician with a frigid feeling.

Coun. Akbal Mund spoke out Monday about the inflatable snowman bylaw debacle which recently made headlines.

91ƵWhat concerns me is that instead of trying to deal with the problem, the owner posted it on social media,91Ƶ Mund said.

91ƵAnd shame on the media for jumping on it like it was the last story in the world without the correct information.

91ƵWhen you have owners going out there stating misinformation, it91Ƶs not right.91Ƶ

A downtown business had been ordered by bylaw officers to remove the large character last week.

Frosty the Snowman has been a constant outside Vernon Teach and Learn Ltd. during the Christmas season, but on Dec. 12, staff learned they91Ƶd have to let him go.

Store owner Lynella Henke was told by bylaw officers last Thursday the blow-up Frosty that91Ƶs been set up for the last eight years would have to be taken down, as it was too close to a parking meter on the street.

City of Vernon communications manager Christy Poirier said bylaw enforcement had received some 91Ƶsafety concerns91Ƶ in regards to the placement of the decoration.

91ƵOne of the concerns was a possible tripping hazard due to the location of the snowman and the need to run an extension cord,91Ƶ Poirier said.

On Saturday the decision to remove Frosty was reversed 91Ƶ sort of.

Frosty will be allowed to stay on the sidewalk in future years so long as he has a permit, which will cost $100.

Bylaw has waived the permit for the remaining two weeks of this year, but it will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

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Mund is upset the situation was not resolved peacefully without involving the media.

91ƵIf you have an issue and you are in the downtown or anywhere, approach the staff and administration and we91Ƶll deal with it,91Ƶ Mund said.

91ƵIt could have been handled a lot better by the owners themselves.91Ƶ

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Jennifer Smith

About the Author: Jennifer Smith

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