Selected articles -- Morning Star, March 7, 2010.

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These two articles deserve further examination. We know that we'll need a certain sum of money to meet our financial obligations. The Figure below is an estimate of our budget.

Pay attention to the line "Fees, charges & other income": $9,892,576. That's how much money is needed from water fees to cover expenditures.

Based on the two news articles above we might start Stage two water restrictions immediately. That means we'll have fewer days to water, hence even without water use reduction due to price increases we'll have difficulty meeting our fiscal objectives.

The Table below demonstrates the expected consequences of reduced sprinkling days.

If there will be further reduction of income due to lower water consumption we will have a major problem. This problem further demonstrates the need for a reformed financing alternative using taxation to cover our mortgage.

The debt payment from the above budget table stands $2,680,961 for 2010. That would be approximately 0.3 mill rate ($30 for each $100,000 value). Compare this to the mill rate for Parks and Recreation at 1.252 (on improvements only, empty lots do not contribute), Multiuse at 0.3718 and Theatre at 0.2039. With these facilities we are being taxed for the operations and maintenance as well (even subsidize organizations by guaranteeing ticket sales).

As always, I must emphasize that these are my ideas only and do not represent my Council in any way!

Have an opinion? Share it with me by dropping a line!

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Gotcha!

APRIL 1st, 2010

Forget the previous message!

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Selected articles -- Morning Star, March 5, 2010.

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Regional district approves water rate increase -- Richard Rolke

Greater Vernon residents can’t avoid higher water bills.

North Okanagan Regional District directors unanimously approved an across-the-board nine per cent water rate increase Wednesday.

“The reality is we have a $4 million bust,” said director Mike Macnabb of a shortfall facing the utility.

“There was an established plan to increase rates and it was artificially held back. Now we have to pay the piper.”

Macnabb added that the funds will go towards improved service for customers.

“If we compare our rates to other places, they are reasonable.”

Under the new rate formula, 20 cubic metres of consumption will be included in the quarterly base fee at a rate of 92 cents per cubic metre.

A new rate specifically for summer (July to September) is also being proposed. It would go from 92 cents per cubic metre to $1.10.

“We were told that the increase is needed for the Duteau Creek treatment plant debt and operation of the plant,” said director Doug Dirk.

“Also, future capital issues are coming up and the increase is needed because reserves have been exhausted.”

Dirk admits that higher rates will hit residents in the wallet.

“There may be more people not watering their lawn,” he said.

And if that occurs, there could be negative implications for the utility.

A reduction in consumption could lead to a drop in revenue which means rates may have to rise even further.

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Let's visit our largest neighbour and see what their water rates are:

Kelowna Water Rates

Effective August 16 2009

Water Regulation Bylaw 2173

Residential

Monthly flat rate $6.22

Variable monthly consumption charge

First 30 cubic metres $0.246 ------>$ 7.38 maximum (360 cubic meters $160.70/yr)
Next 50 cubic metres $0.324------->$16.20 maximum
Next 45 cubic metres $0.491------->$22.10 maximum
Total (if 125 cubic meters are consumed)-->$45.68 maximum

Average (of 125 cubic meters) $0.36544/m3

Consumption in excess of 125 cubic metres $0.983
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Black Mountain Irrigation District 2009 Domestic Toll Rates:

Residential -------------->$31.00 per month
Residential with Suite -------------->$49.50 per month

Multi-Family – Medium Density (Each duplex, triplex, four-plex)$29.25 per unit per month
Multi-Family – High Density (Incl. Apartments, Townhouses) $26.00 per unit per month

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Glenmmore-Ellison Improvement District 2010 Water Rates
Residential Customers

2010 Water billings are issued quarterly with an option to prepay the year. Customers are billed on a per unit basis at a flat rate charge of $96.00 per quarter per unit plus an additional water tax levy, depending on the size of the property, based on the District's assessment of the property as follows:

Quarterly billing for properties up to 1/3 of an acre - $96.00 per unit plus $8.85 irrigation tax for a total of $104.85.
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Rutland Waterworks

The Trustees of the Rutland Waterworks District Enact the Following:

1. For purposes of this bylaw, “QUARTERLY” means a three (3) month period, consisting of ninety (90) days.

2. That effective the 1st day of January, 2009 the following domestic water toll rates shall apply:
(a) Single Dwellings $40.08 per QUARTER for the first 15,000 gallons ($.594/m3);
$1.28 per thousand for the next 24,000 gallons; ($.284/m3);
$1.43 per thousand for the next 30,000 gallons; ($.318/m3);
$1.91 per thousand gallons thereafter ($.424/m3).
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Southeast Kelowna Irrigation District Taxes and Tolls (Bylaws 627 and 630)

1. For the year 2009 there is hereby levied the following taxes:

(a) A tax at the rate of $63.00 per acre or minimum of $63.00 per parcel on all Grade “A” Lands.

(b) A tax at the rate of $63.00 per acre or minimum of $63.00 per parcel on all Grade “B” Lands.

17. Metered Rates

Any service charged a metered rate will be billed monthly for water service.

Monthly metered rate:

$2.18 per 1,000 US gallons ($.574/m3)

Minimum monthly rate: $33.25 ($399)

Due 21 calendar days after date of billing

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Selected articles -- Morning Star, March 3, 2010.

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Readers write -- "We're going to keep doing it wrong until we like it that way." (Willie Nelson )

Gyula's insightful prediction that water rate increases may result in users turning off their taps and therefore reducing income to Greater Vernon Water could be among a constellation of consequences.

The increased cost of water will have an impact on on wildfire risk reduction, community stability and the containment of urban sprawl.

Homeowners, whether on a hobby farm or residential property who have reached the maximum cost they can sustain will have to decide between moving or letting their property go tinder-dry.

Ideas, on CBC radio, aired a chilling program: Visions of Wildfire. We are approaching a time when wild-fire management will be a contradiction of terms. Rather, it will be a shift of wind turning a fire back on itself or the snows of winter that dampen massive conflagrations, leaving the fire alive in the roots of the forest, ready to regain vigour as soon as conditions are right.

A wild-fire expert on BC Almanac CBC radio cautioned that the volume of water used to control wild-fire far exceeds that of responsible irrigation.

Media images of wild-fires, global or regional, are a powerful educational instrument. We are aware of wild-fire behaviour and risks, we recognize which structures will become charred shells and which will remain relatively untouched. We know that fuel reduction is key. However, there is a limit to what you can do when the structure you live in is wood and you do not have the financial where-with-all to replace your wooden decks, siding and roof.

According to experts, grass-fires and fire in debris-laden forests are among the fastest moving fires. Throw scorched lawns and shrubs into the mix and you have a ready-made wick abutting our dry forests.

Valued and much-missed long-time neighbours and nature-lovers were forced out of their hobby farm after the first dramatic water increase. They could not bear to watch their fruit and ornamental trees whither and die. Retirement income and open-ended regional taxation/fees/rates are not happy bed-fellows.

Established residents contribute to the vitality of our community, they have lived our history and understand that we must be vigilant with respect to the preservation of our values. They care about the well-being of our friends and neighbours. They are the eyes and ears on our children and homes.

When the last of the majority of taxpayers/rate-payers/fee-payers are "tapped" dry, the next logical step is to bring in more taxpayers, rate-payers and fee-payers. Goodbye "rural living at its best", hello urban-sprawl.

Gyula's warning that diminished income to Greater Vernon Water will affect water rates ought to be a wake-up call. The unpleasant taste of V.I.D. water is for many a distant memory, the unpleasant taste left in in one's mouth from unwise "conservation" taxation will linger no matter which way you wash it.

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New water rates! - Supplementary.

You might be interested to note that if you were one of those using less than 20 cubic meters of water per quarter in 2009, your water price increase in 2010 will be greater than for those using 20 cubic meters or slightly more quarterly.

For example, if your quarterly water consumption was 15 cubic meter per quarter last year your total water bill was $164.88. The same amount of water this year would cost you $200.80 this year or 22% more.

If you really saved water and only used 10 cubic meters quarterly your increase over last year would be $52.52 or 35%. Is it not an eye opener?

This points out a failure of the system: up to 20 cubic meters per quarter there is no incentive to save water.

More problems will be discussed later.

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How the "Pavement Picasso" Does It - Huffington Post

Move over, hopscotch boards. U.K. artist Julian Beever and German artist Edgar Mueller are two dudes who independently make some pretty amazing 3D chalk sidewalk murals. It's almost as if the guy from Mary Poppins and Wile E. Coyote started giving art lessons. These optical illusions use perspective so that when seen from the right angle, the drawings seem as real as a photograph. Curious? See how it's done!

Predicting the effects of water rate increases for 2010.

As I reported earlier there will be significant increases to our water rates for 2010. I made some calculations comparing water costs using 2009 rates to the proposed new rates. Selected six models as examples of cost increases as follows:

Low consumption: single person using 20 m3 of water quarterly (11% increase);

Low consumption: couple using 40 m3 of water quarterly (12% increase);

Moderate consumption: family of four (no outside use) (14% increase);

Moderately high consumption: couple with garden (21% increase);

Moderately high consumption: family of four with garden (27% increase), and

High consumption: family of four with large garden (27% increase).

Results can be viewed at: Waterrates2010.

To calculate your own costs visit mywaterrates and replace the red values with your own quarterly consumption values (m3 on your water bill). This formula works for all water customers in Greater Vernon.

Here are some hype from 2004 trying to convince taxpayers to support the “borrowing referendum”:

Note the graph showing “slight rate increases” if the referendum passes. Well, it did. What happened to the slight rate increases?

We also were given the list of items and the time-lines for their installation before the referendum as shown below:

Note what we were offered for $35 million and when they would become realities. Since then we have received an additional $25 million in grants and instead of declining, our water rates are skyrocketing. Beware of politicians offering you the stars and the moon! It would have been nicer to tell us the truth in 2002 and again in 2004.

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Selected articles -- Morning Star,February 28, 2010.

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Selected articles -- Morning Star,February 26, 2010.

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New water rates!

Greater Vernon water rates will be increased significantly for 2010. See the rate structure proposed by staff and accepted in principle by NORD:

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Photo gallery: Spring is coming. Courtesy: Debbie Gibson.

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Selected articles -- Morning Star,February 19, 2010.

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Readers write -- Killing Kalamalka Lake

Thursday February 25th, SENS (Sustainable Environmental Network Society) will be presenting:

"Killing Kalamalka: How nutrient loading is threatening the future of Kalamalka Lake, Vernon's main domestic water source"

with Randy Schellenberg.

Schellenberg, spokesperson for the Citizens' Coalition to Save Silver Star Provincial Park, will take us on a virtual tour that explores sources of contamination of headwater streams in the community watersheds that have led to sobering discoveries further downstream, including findings on the west side of Kalamalka Lake. Topics of discussion will include Vernon and Silver Star wastewater, biosolids composting, effluent irrigation, and the MacKay reservoir.

Thursday February 25th, 7 PM, at the Schubert Centre.

Admittance by donation.

Huguette

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Council Meeting, February 22, 2010

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Selected articles -- Morning Star,February 21, 2010.

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Selected articles -- Morning Star,February 19, 2010.

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Readers write -- Sorry Boss!

Hello, boss I cannot come in to work today. There was a moose born on my front lawn and the mom won't let me out of the house!!!!

Meaghers Grant is about 40 miles west of the Halifax

Baby Moose 12 Hours Old - Born in the middle of downtown Meaghers Grant, Nova Scotia.

The mother picked a small, quiet Neighborhood, and had her baby in a front yard just of John Grant Back Road, at 5:30 am.

What an awesome place we live in to see such a sight.

Makes it really tough to use your front door.

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Coldstream Technical Committee Meeting

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