Friday, April 2, 2010

Readers write - In support.

I would like to post the following to your blog ( if you're ok with it) :

Councillor Kiss should be commended for taking the time an energy to be well-informed, and share his information with others. Over the years he has spoken out and defended the rights and interests of Coldstream citizens as well as those of Greater Vernon. He is one of the most knowledgeable people when it comes to water.

He was put in a difficult situation at the March NORD (RDNO) meeting where he had to vote on the entire NORD Budget, and was the only director to speak out about the increase in Agricultural Water Rates. Yet in the end, due to time constraints, he felt he should vote in favor of the overall budget. Regrettably, due to the way services are structured at the Regional District, the discussion of water rates (one of the most important topics to the citizens of Greater Vernon) was glossed over at a GVAC (Greater Vernon Advisory Committee) in February. The real problem here is in the governance structure of Greater Vernon Water, not in directors avoiding the blame. The blame goes to all of us for not dealing with the problems at Greater Vernon Water.

Hopefully we can stop the legal wrangling and get down to some real solutions at the public meeting April 7th, 2010 at 8:30 am in the NORD Board room. Blaming director Kiss for increased Agricultural Water Rates, or blaming him for not being the one lone NO vote to the entire NORD Budget over Agricultural Water Rates is not really fair. Many a time he has been the lone NO vote, and then criticized by the media for creating regional tensions or not going with the flow.

I guess the moral of the story is; you can't please everyone. Kind of makes you think of one of Aesop's Fables:


The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey
An Aesop's Fable

A man and his son were once going with their Donkey to market. As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them and said: "You fools, what is a Donkey for but to ride upon?"

So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey and they went on their way. But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said: "See that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides."

So the Man ordered his Boy to get off, and got on himself. But they hadn't gone far when they passed two women, one of whom said to the other: "Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along."

Well, the Man didn't know what to do, but at last he took his Boy up before him on the Donkey. By this time they had come to the town, and the passers-by began to jeer and point at them. The Man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at. The men said:
"Aren't you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey of yours and your hulking son?"

The Man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do. They thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied the donkey's feet to it, and raised the pole and the donkey to their shoulders. They went along amid the laughter of all who met them till they came to Market Bridge, when the Donkey, getting one of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the Boy to drop his end of the pole. In the struggle the Donkey fell over the bridge, and his fore-feet being tied together he was drowned.

"That will teach you," said an old man who had followed them:

Please all, and you will please none!

Maria Besso

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Coldstream Ratepayers News! All Coldstream residents are ratepayers!

The opinions expressed by "Coldstreamer" are strictly his own and do not represent the opinions of Coldstream Council!

Because I value your thoughtful opinions, I encourage you to add a comment to this discussion. Don't be offended if I edit your comments for clarity or to keep out questionable matters, however, and I may even delete off-topic comments.

Gyula Kiss
coldstreamer@shaw.ca;

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About Me

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I have been a resident of Coldstream since 1976. I have had 15 years of experience on Council, 3 years as Mayor. As a current Councillor I am working to achieve fair water and sewer rates and to ensure that taxpayers get fair treatment. The current direction regarding water supply is unsustainable and I am doing all I can to get the most cost effective water supply possible.