Sicamous council is keeping things black and white after declaring that no crosswalks would be painted to honour groups or causes as it's an issue that would very likely "snowball."

In response to a letter received from Richard Chmilar at the Nov. 27 meeting to have a crosswalk painted in honour of veterans, staff did some research and brought it back to the table on Dec. 11. Though council had previously favoured the idea, most realized it could result in a flurry of such requests. 

鈥淭here are several communities that aren鈥檛 doing anything, because they don鈥檛 want to do everything. Their point is, once they start with one crosswalk, one group, then all of a sudden everyone wants a crosswalk," Mayor Colleen Anderson pointed out. "So, it鈥檚 setting a precedent.... once you start, it鈥檚 a snowball.鈥�

Coun. Ian Baillie agreed, adding if they were to pursue this, a policy should be put in place so council would know "what we're doing and why we're doing it." He also questioned the cost and whether it would fall completely to the district, or if groups would also contribute. 

鈥淚 do think there needs to be some more thought around it," he said. "I mean, obviously everybody supports these causes, that鈥檚 not the question. It is, though, us trying to put some process around this.鈥�

Though Coun. Bob Evans liked the idea of honouring veterans, he did point out there is the upgraded cenotaph area for that, and also questioned the cost of maintenance on the crosswalk. 

鈥淚t would make it a little more labour intensive, and we鈥檇 have to freshen it up in the spring... and it would become an ongoing cost," he said. "So as much  as I liked the idea on its own, I just feel like it would become more hassle than it鈥檚 worth.鈥�   

Others on council agreed with the principle of the initiative but also with the validity of those arguments presented, though Coun. Pam Beech remained the lone member still wanting to pursue the project. 

鈥淚 do see everyone鈥檚 concern about other people wanting their causes represented... I do, however, fell like our veterans, the men and women that went to war and put themselves at risk for our freedom are in a category all of their own,鈥� she said, but agreed a policy would need to be put in place if they were to move forward with it. 

As the district has a recognition policy in place for Flag, Proclamation and Illumination procedures, council introduced and approved a recommendation to amend it stating they would not be including painted crosswalks in that.