Some of the people on the Greater Vernon Governance
committee are individuals that I know personally and I have a great deal of
respect for them. Having said that and as a long term resident of Coldstream I
must say that on this proposal of amalgamation I am in total
disagreement. These are my reasons:
1. Cost savings – in my career as a
Chartered Accountant spanning a total of 37 years I was involved in a number of
amalgamations both in our firm and with clients. In every case one of the main
initial arguments for the amalgamation proposal was cost saving and greater
efficiency. In every case after the amalgamation had been accomplished in
actual fact costs went up substantially. New departments were created,
additional staff hired and new levels of bureaucracy and frustrations were
experienced. Once new bureaucracies and departments are created it is
absolutely impossible to get rid of them. Based on my personal experience I
don’t buy the cost saving argument at all.
2. Operating efficiency – if the entire
North Okanagan is amalgamated into one jurisdiction under Vernon one of the
arguments is that there will be less politicians dealing with a much larger
area. This sounds good in theory however less politicians will mean much more
work covering a much wider area for those that are elected and they will not
have the local knowledge of the people and issues in Coldstream that the
councillors in Coldstream do.
3. Vernon’s Debt Load and Infrastructure
Deficit (as noted in a recent Morning Star article quoting Mayor Rob
Sawatzky).
– I do not think that we in Coldstream want to take on the
additional taxes that will be required in becoming obligated for a share in
Vernon’s debt load and infrastructure deficit
4. Fire Departments – we will certainly
lose our volunteer fire departments who do a wonderful job of serving Coldstream
and Lavington. Once we lose our volunteer fire departments our share of fire
protection costs will certainly go up substantially.
5. Community – in Coldstream we are
fortunate to have a long history resulting in a unique sense of community and
local culture. We are all proud of our history and our unique community. With
amalgamation, over time we will just become an area of Vernon, our sense of
identity and uniqueness of community will be lost. Margaret Ormsby refers to
this in her book “Coldstream Nulli Secundus”, that is Coldstream - Second to
None. We are a unique little “Jewell” and there is no other place like it.
Agnes Sovereign and Paddy Mackie often referred to this in discussions with us
over the years. As long time residents of Coldstream we understand this and
appreciate it.
6. Okanagan Landing – we are all aware
that the forced amalgamation of the Okanagan Landing with the City of Vernon has
been a “debacle” to say the least and there is no reason to believe that the
same thing wouldn’t happen with Coldstream.
7. Coldstream Municipal Staff – in my
personal experience the staff in Coldstream are good people and good to deal
with. From the people in the office to the roads crew to the water crews and so
on (all of whom I have dealt with over time) they are friendly, courteous and
very prompt and helpful in getting the problem resolved in a friendly and
effective manner.
8. Coldstream Ranch – one of the great
assets in Coldstream is the Coldstream Ranch. We are all very fortunate that
the current owner (as well as previous management and owners) Mr Keith Balcaen
loves the ranch and loves ranching. He is doing a great job in looking after
the property and as a result we all enjoy beautiful vistas of green space and
well cared for hay fields, corn fields and pastures. In addition the Coldstream
Ranch pays for and harvests the crops of many small acreages in the Coldstream
enabling the owners to stay on their property, realize some income in order to
pay irrigation water bills and maintain their farm status as well as keeping
their properties green and in good shape. These all add to beautiful vistas in
Coldstream. If the Coldstream Ranch were to be broken up and all of its lots
were to be sold off there would be a huge change in the vistas and landscapes
that we all currently enjoy and probably take for granted. Without proper land
management we are at risk of being overrun by Scotch Thistle, Knapweed, Burdock
and other noxious weeds as well as many pests such as gophers etc. There are a
few examples of this in Coldstream now where farming has ceased on some
properties and I shudder to think what would happen if Coldstream were to be
amalgamated into Vernon and the Coldstream Ranch were to become under the Vernon
jurisdiction.
9. Heritage – Coldstream has a tremendous
heritage. Those that came before us put a lot of time effort and money to build
this municipality and make if what it is today. If we were to amalgamate with
the City of Vernon I fear that there would be a “deafening” roar coming out of
the Coldstream Cemetery on Howe Drive as our forefathers all turn over in their
graves in their disapproval of us allowing the destruction of what they worked
so hard to create and preserve.
10. Regional Services – Regional services
such as water, recreation and so on are hugh expenditures and probably represent
the largest portion of total costs in the North Okanagan. These services are
already amalgamated with good administration and proper oversight so there would
be no advantage gained in these areas through amalgamation.
One thing the Greater Vernon Governance Committee is
proposing is to have a study on amalgamation done. I am not in
favour of supporting a study either. It is possible to
get a study to conclude whatever you want depending on who requests the study
and what assumptions are used. If the Coldstream Council supports having a
study done then it will be a signal that they are open to the idea of
amalgamation and I think that Council should indicate that they are not open to
amalgamation at all. If the voters are unhappy with this they can of course run
new candidates in Novembers election and if successful this will become a “self
destruct” council. I am told that the BC government will not force an
amalgamation if the people in Coldstream do not want it. I think we should send
a strong message that we don’t want amalgamation.
Jim, you as Mayor and your fellow Councillors are doing a
good job of looking after our best interests and we appreciate what you are
doing. My wife and I would much prefer that we continue to be
Coldstream and not amalgamated with the City of Vernon. If a
change were to occur our fear is that it will become “Urban Living at its Worst”
rather than “Rural Living at its Best.”
Thank you Jim for taking the time to read my thoughts. If
you wish to share them with the other members of Council please go right
ahead.
Good luck in your deliberations.
Bob and Lil Weatherill
January 8, 2014
Published with permission from the author.
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3 comments:
Hear, hear. I hope this is printed in both the Morning Star, and elsewhere, especially in the Sun and Province. Perhaps CBC BC would post it on their website...
It is an education for those in other communities who face the threat of being absorbed by a large and hungry neighbor.
Now I can sleep soundly. There is no good rebuttal to Mr. Weatherill's case.
What a great letter, my thoughts exactly. No amalgamation for Coldstream and surrounding areas.
I agree with above. However, the Morning Star is biased and very selective on whose side/letter they print.
Sun, Province or CBC would be more likely to run with it but don't hold your breath.
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