What is happening with the Master Water Plan and GVSC?

As most of us are painfully aware, our so called “Master Water Plan(?)” (MWP) is creeping along slowly. As the attached "Projects, costs & timeline" suggestsd we should all have good quality water by now. Only some of the projects materialized and most of the cost and timeline projections were not met. Yet these were the promises that sold the project to the few that voted for it. In spite of the unfulfilled promises water rates will likely increase again (unconfirmed reports expect it to rise to $0.80-$0.82 per m3 - an increase between 5.2-7.9%). It is time to pose some questions to GVSC directors so we would know what is really happening. Some questions are listed below.

Questions for GVSC Chair and Directors.

1. What is the status of GVSC?

2. Is there a water rate increase? If so how much? What is the status of the reserves and what is happening to them?

3. How much money has been borrowed so far for infrastructure improvement?

4. How will we split the funds once the City leaves the bulk water part of GVSC? Almost the entire budget was spent on City projects yet we all contributed to the booty. Are we getting any of our money back?

5. When are we getting any improvement for our money? City residents and the developers in Vernon got improved water while the rest of us got absolutely nothing 6 years after the water rate began its meteoric rise. Coldstream could be connected to City water quite easily yet no move has been made to achieve this.

6. Has the danger of water borne diseases lessened in the last 6 years? If my memory serves me correctly that was the urgency of starting the altered “MWP” without waiting for senior government grants.

7. Do the fathers of GVSC, which is now floundering, and the Master Water Plan, which is anything but “Master”, feel any shame for all the unfulfilled promises?

8. Should the Directors of GVSC, provide some update on what is happening? Shouldn’t the Committee apologize for the lack of progress?

9. What are the plans for the west Swan Lake area for water improvements? What will replace the Goose Lake water supply? This was one of the project which received specific focus in the above document.

10. What is happening with the taxation based infrastructure financing proposed by Director Kanester a couple of years ago? What steps have been taken towards graduated water rates?

I will report back when I receive answers to those questions.

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