Selected reading from the Morning Star, Feb. 3, 2008.

Coldstream bus route changes.

Perhaps the needs of the customers should supersede the convenience of the Vernon Regional Transit. Running empty buses is not very cost effective.

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Wiarton Willie fails to see shadow, predicts early end to winter -- By Allison Jones The Can. Press

WIARTON, Ont. - It was a week of severe weather across the country as the Prairies hunkered down in bone-chilling temperatures, an ice storm struck Prince Edward Island and a blustery snowstorm dumped on Ontario and Quebec, but according to Canadian weather forecasters of the furry variety, the end is in sight.

Wiarton Willie, Canada's most famous weather prognosticating rodent, failed to see his shadow when roused from his slumber Saturday morning in the small southern Ontario community.

Folklore has it that if a groundhog sees his shadow on Groundhog Day, he'll flee to his burrow, heralding six more weeks of winter - if he doesn't, it means an early spring. more

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A chess game in our forest is just the beginning. -- By Don Elzer, The Other Beaver.

February 1, 2008

It’s a blessing that our economy is more diversified than it was 30 years ago. There was a time when this current downturn in the forest industry would be considered a sign of a complete economic collapse in the province.

As healthy as our economy appears today, the forest industry is still at the core of community economies particularly in BC’s interior and the total sum of that industry still drives this provinces economic engine; even if that fact is overlooked by most of us.

As industry players walk a fine line between closures and acquisition we’re witnessing a chess game of sorts. With revenues dropping, each major licensee is gambling that it may be their turn to acquire their competitor at fire sale prices.

Provincial decision makers are in a game of hardball on this one; Forests Minister Rich Coleman’s coastal forest “action plan” came out just as industry players announced temporary or permanent mill closures across the province.

Coleman admits that there aren’t many mills left to protect on the north coast, and shipping raw logs to Asia will at least keep loggers employed in areas where jobs are hardest to come by.

Sources tell me that one of the coastal majors is beginning to move surplus milling and extraction equipment to China ready to set up shop there. I suppose it’s a common corporate philosophy today that if you can’t compete against them…join them.

The interior looks a bit more promising for Coleman since he’s dealing with more modernized operations, but still closures are happening, we now have Interfor buying a piece of Pope & Talbot, and joining the parade of companies cranking out pine beetle killed wood for markets that are sparse to say the least.

But even getting creative doesn’t appear to be working for Coleman, two huge 15-year forest tenures were awarded to Ainsworth Lumber in exchange for a promise to “construct or significantly expand” oriented strandboard (OSB) plants to convert the beetle-killed wood into building products.

Then just before the last provincial election there was the award of four 10-year harvest licenses to Swedish owned TallOil Canada Inc., to make wood pellets for export to Europe in an effort to consume beetle-killed wood. The pellets would replace coal to generate electricity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions while generating hundreds of construction and logging jobs in the BC interior.

It seemed like problems were on the verge of disappearing, but it was all for not. Ainsworth backed out of one of the two harvest licenses, and agreed to build only one OSB plant in the Prince George-Quesnel area by 2009.

But even that promise was short-lived as our dollar zoomed and the US housing market collapsed. Now Ainsworth has closed two OSB plants in Minnesota, one in Ontario and its newest OSB plant in Grande Prairie, Alberta.

Needless to say, there’s probably little hope for a new OSB plant in BC. I wonder what will happen to that other tenure license?

There’s still some hope for the pellet idea but the deadline for TallOil to have “substantial completion” of a pellet plant passed on November 1st and the ministry confirms that TallOil has asked for an extension on the forest licenses, but with no mention of a start date for constructing a pellet plant.

It appears as though the beetles have the best of us and especially the minister.

Now there’s a desperate attempt at creating power generation using the wood, and then planting fast growing genetically modified* species so we can keep stoking the fires for those boilers long after the dead pine is gone.

Coleman might be going from being the architect of an economic disaster to an environmental disaster as a third of the province gets planted into some sort of strange plantation with stunted trees growing so close together that moose would need retractable antlers to survive in it.

Since 2005 the ministry has been subjected to the influence of political strategists rather than forest strategists. Desperate measures require competent solutions, not solutions from spin-doctors searching for feel good announcements that keep the public in an artificial comfort zone.

But really it’s not his fault, timing is everything in politics, and for Rich Coleman it’s just bad timing.

External market conditions, pine beetle epidemic, an increasing dollar, should the government be let off easy on this one?

Not a chance.

It’s times like these where strong leadership is required that doesn’t sell the farm. There’s more that could be lost if we’re not careful. The last time this happened the provincial government allowed big companies to close sawmills in communities but yet keep their tenure. This time they might allow companies to move off shore and keep their tenure.

Premier Campbell should put someone in charge of the ministry who has a forestry background and who understands communities that depend on forestry so that common sense can prevail during the storm.

* Correction: Those are not genetically modified, they are bred by conventional tree breeding methods. (The Eagle).

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Paying Before Pumping Now the Law -- By Jessica Samuels, KISS FM

A change in how you pay for your gas has taken effect through-out BC.

Mandatory 'pay before you pump' rules started at midnight.

Drivers now have to pay before gassing up either right at the pump or at the cashier inside.

Keith Wood with Vernon's Esso stations says the new rules will take a lot of pressure off gas attendants.

"This whole law is for the safety and the welfare of the worker. It tremendously reduces the stress of the cashier because right now, people don't realize it, but if you're not paying at the pump they you are potentially a thief and we're watching you."

Wood says he expects negative response to be minimal as more than half of his customers already pay at the pump.

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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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Council stays firm on tax hike – By Jennifer Smith - Morning Star - January 30

The Eagle's comment: Right on John Hegler! Let's not forget the Nord hike of 7%, sewer rate hike of 5.2%, water rate hike of ?% (I was not allowed to ask how much the water rates will go up) etc. In addition, those taxpayers, whose assessment went up way above average will feel the real impact of 9.17% tax hike.

Councillor Malerby made a passionate speech expressing how hard they worked to come up with only 9.17% increase. Council is lucky, they are not on a fixed income as taxpayers pockets are deep. Had they have to survive on a fixed annual income they would have have to find some items to be postponed for later consideration. It takes willpower and dedication to manage other people's money as you would do with your own.

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Articles of interest -- Morning Star, January 27, 2008.

Click on these articles from the Morning Star and enjoy them. Note the problems facing our politicians: increasing taxes and more wishes for facilities.

They reduce the size of some sport facilities, at the same time they want new ones (bike skill park, college site).

They are trying to convince our citizens to take advantage of public transportation and at the same time making it more difficult to access it.

Coldstream and NORD appear to be in competition as to who can increase taxes higher. So far Coldstream is the clear winner.

Perhaps the most interesting fact is that the "less important" issue (water treatment for most of Coldstream and the residents of NORD) is getting further and further away. I wonder how much extra the new Duteau Creek treatment plant will cost with the additional cost of environmental assessment and time delay! Our "experts" should have been aware of this environmental study long before now but they ignored it.

Remember the rhetoric: "The risk of a waterborne-illness outbreak is a serious one...." (click on article on right)? To date the only improvement realized is in the City of Vernon yet we all have been paying higher and higher rates for water since 2002. I guess our politicians recognize what is important and what can be put on the back-burners.

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Vernon Civic Complex Referendum results.

First results: 2112 total, 549 (26%) YES, 1563 (74%) NO. Three polls reporting. Huge victory for the NO side!!! The Taxpayers have spoken again loud and clear!

Final toll: 71% NO (3984), 29% YES (1619).

Council meeting and Public Hearing Agendas -- Jan 26, 2008

Monday's Council meeting is preceded by two Public Hearings. Agendas for the Public Hearings are attached as well as the first page of the Council meeting Agenda. Full Council Agenda is available at this site.

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Sports field debate reignited at GVSC -- By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - January 25, 2008

The sports complex debate is back on Greater Vernon’s agenda.

The Greater Vernon Services Committee has reignited discussions about future sports fields, including during a closed-door session Thursday. “We have a couple of things we are discussing but nothing of the magnitude of the previous one,” said Gary Corner, GVSC chairman.

GVSC had originally proposed constructing a sports complex on a portion of Coldstream Ranch on Aberdeen Road. However, a December referendum resulted in a majority of residents preventing Coldstream council from sending a land use application to the Agricultural Land Commission. The concerns of residents varied, but the primary one was using quality farm land for sports fields, and that could lead to traffic problems and increased urbanization.Corner was unwilling to get into the specifics of the current discussions.“It may be one large site or a few around the community,” he said.

Corner added, though, that an outstanding issue is finding large chunks of property not in the Agricultural Land Reserve. One site that has been suggested by some residents is farm land just to the north of the Multiplex and Kin Race Track.

Earlier this month, the City of Vernon requested that GVSC hold a meeting with it to discuss sports facilities in the area. No date has been set for that meeting, but Corner is open to pursuing the matter with the city. “We will certainly talk to the city and the city has three representatives at this committee,” he said. Vernon city council will also meet internally to discuss land issues regarding potential sites for new fields.

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Hopefully, this time they might take into consideration input from the general taxpayer who will ultimately pay for the play.

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UBC Discovery Unlocks Tree Genetics, Gives New Hope For Pine Beetle Defense -- UBC Alumni

A note of interest: in the late 1980's I have studied the genetic basis of spruce weevil resistance and reported in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research (1991). At that time it was difficult to convince my peers of such genetic control. (The Eagle)

UBC researchers have discovered some of the genetic secrets that enable pine and spruce trees to fight off pests and disease, uncovering critical new information about forests’ natural defense systems.

Assoc. Prof. Joerg Bohlmann says this genetic analysis will allow forest stewardship programs to reinforce a forest’s inherent strength, breeding trees that could in time repel insects such as British Columbia’s notorious mountain pine beetles.

Bohlmann and his research associate Christopher Keeling explored the genetic makeup of oleoresin within spruce, discovering a sophisticated ability to produce complex blends of chemicals that continuously evolve to protect the tree from changing conditions and challenges.

“Conifers are some of the oldest and longest living plants on the planet,” says Bohlmann. “We’ve opened the book to understanding how they can survive in one location for thousands of years despite attacks from generations of insects and diseases.”

Their study examines the molecular biochemistry of conifers interacting with genomes of bark beetles and bark beetle-associated fungal pathogens. Bohlmann’s study appears in today’s edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“Figuring out how these naturally occurring defenses work has important implications for the long-term sustainability and health of our forests,” says Bohlmann, who’s working with the B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range, the forestry industry and the Canadian Forest Service.

Bohlmann is also co-leader of the recently announced $4-million project that Genome BC and Genome Alberta is funding to investigate the mountain pine beetle infestation at the genomic level.

Insect pests and pathogens cause annual losses of billions of dollars to conifer-based forest economies in North America and Europe. In B.C., the mountain pine beetle epidemic has killed about 40 per cent of the pine forests since its first appearance in the mid 1990s.

This is the largest recorded bark beetle outbreak in Canada, leaving B.C. with 13 million hectares of grey and red dead pine – an area four times the size of Vancouver Island and a volume of dead timber equivalent to 530 million telephone poles.

Bohlmann is leading UBC’s and international research programs on forest health genomics. In 2006, Bohlmann and a team of international scientists completed the world’s first physical map and sequencing of a tree genome – the third plant ever sequenced.

He is based at UBC’s Michael Smith Laboratories, a multidisciplinary research facility. Bohlmann also holds teaching appointments in the departments of Botany and Forest Sciences and is an associate at UBC’s Wine Research Centre.

Bohlmann and study co-authors are members of the Treenomix project, Canada’s first large-scale forestry genome project. Their work received support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Genome BC and Genome Canada.

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Is this for real?

Youth’s condition improves -- By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - January 23, 2008

The condition of a Vernon youth injured at Silver Star Mountain is improving.

Bryant Gronemeyer, 12, has gone from critical to fair condition at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.

“His vital signs are stable and in normal limits,” said Lubna Ekramoddoullah, a communications specialist with the hospital.

He has also resumed consciousness.

“The indicators are favourable. His doctor says he is continuously improving,” said Ekramoddoullah.

Gronemeyer, a Grade 7 student from Harwood Elementary, was injured while taking part in a school field trip to Silver Star Mountain Resort Jan. 17.

He was preparing to get off the midway station on the Summit chairlift when his helmet strap got caught on the chairlift. That resulted in some choking occurring.

Gronemeyer was treated on the mountain, transported by ambulance to Vernon Jubilee Hospital and then transferred to Vancouver.

Ekramoddoullah believes Gronemeyer’s parents are handling the situation as well as can be expected.

“They are doing much better because of the improved conditions,” she said.

Silver Star and the B.C. Safety Authority are investigating the accident, as is the Vernon School District’s insurance firm.

The Summit chairlift is open but the midway station is closed during the investigation.

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Beetle Wood Put to Use.

Pine beetle wood will soon be used to generate heat and electricity for several buildings in Prince George.

The federal, provincial and municipal governments have announced plans for the community biomass energy system.

Work begins on the biomass burner this spring and it's expected to be in operation by 2009.

The annual cost is estimated at 305-thousand dollars but the program will generate gross revenues of about 685-thousand dollars a year.

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New Rates Coming From ICBC

Future I-C-B-C rate increases may have a lot to do with where you live and what you drive.

I-C-B-C spokesman Doug McClelland says the insurance corporation now has permission to set variable rates as much as six per cent above or below the provincial average.

McClelland says the variable rates would cover risks posed by certain types of vehicles, such as motorcycles, or certain regions of the province -- such as rapidly growing suburban areas where more cars translate to more crashes.

Starting May 1st, I-C-B-C will also charge 25 dollars to list additional drivers on a vehicle's insurance, but the fee only applies if the secondary driver does not own a vehicle and has less experience or a worse driving record than the main driver.

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Readers write -- "Give me lipperty AND give me debt!"

In ostensibly democratic countries like ours, individuals run for election to help actualize societal needs.

It should be assumed that they have put their own agendas on hold to strive for the provision of community needs. A country’s needs supercede the wants of individuals and collective groups. Many times, the collective actions of our elected representatives seem more driven by their dedication to cater to self-interest groups.

Recently, in Coldstream, GVSC (Got Very Stupid in Coldstream) and its proponents were stopped from the attempted Spicer block pillage.

I have been wondering how such a proposal almost became a reality.What approach did GVSC use to determine the public’s need for such a thing? How many citizens felt that a dog agility area was an asset that would make Coldstream even better? As for the walking paths, no one consulted my neighbours or me whether we thought driving to the park to take a walk was a sane activity.

Now I see that GVSC has been approached to fund a bicycle skills park - another important need in the community !!!!

Well now, I come from the old age pensioners’ segment of the area. How do we, a very large group, make our needs become reality? Surely an indoor dog walk, one like the Marshall indoor soccer facility, is as viable as a bicycle skills park. Often I read or hear that the addition of such facilities is good for business; more tourism, more malls, etc. Whose good? Surely the good of the majority is more important than the bacchanalian Fun Fest that profits only a small number of greater Vernon folks.

If business needs it, let business build it.

Perhaps the more barbaric aspect of this primitive concept is that some expect the rest of us to finance the realization of their utterly hedonistic fantasies.

Our local hospital needs funding to better meet the medical needs of the community but some of our local public servants prefer parking lots and regulation football fields, and art galleries. Last summer, while shopping at London Drugs, I noticed an elderly man sleeping behind the mailbox by the door. A few minutes later a RCMP member moved him out. I don’t know the fellow’s circumstances but I know his well being is more important than a bicycle skills park.

Our elected council members must embrace the reality that they are public servants - people who choose to serve rather than to pander to the unrealistic wants adherents. The philosophy that the only three important people on earth are Me, Myself, and I is monstrous.

Tyranny takes many forms and ignoring the needs of the people is one. Way back in American history, Patrick Henry, in speaking about England’s tyranny towards the colonies, said, “ Give me liberty or give me death!”

When I consider the Vernon scene and especially now that we need a new Civic Centre, might it now be rephrased as, “Give me lipperty AND give me debt?”

GB
Lavington.

Budget blues.

Apparently "The majority of those attending understood and accepted the rationale for tax increase...". Perhaps so, but a ten minute review of the budget does not give much time for anyone to fully understand and assess the intricacies of the budget and its affects on the family budget. The magnitude of the increases will not hit home until the bill arrives, especially for those whose assessment jumped 25-35%.

In addition to tax increases we must look at increases in fees. We don't know yet the magnitude of water rate increases but we probably get a 5% increase. That present will come from Greater Vernon Water (of which our Mayor is chair).

The sewer increase is well documented in the budget. Since we had "too much money" in the sewer reserve previous Council graciously relieved us of the burden to the tune of $667,060 leaving a meager reserve of $92,417. These funds helped out the developers of Coldstream Meadows so that they would have a lighter load when connecting to the sewer system.

In the late 1990's Trintec Enterprises developed a subdivision off Sarsons Road (Inverness Drive). The entire cost of extending the sewer system to 15th Street, constructing a holding storage and lift stations was the responsibility of the developer. Why were the requirements for this development different?

This year an additional sum of $264,000 was spent to further lighten the load of Coldstream Meadows by buying out the latecomer fees. Nice gesture! Who pays for this gesture? We, sewer customers do.

The consequences are showing up in the present sewer budget. The rich customers of the existing sewer system will now pay 5.2% ($568 compared to last year's $540) more than last year for their sewer fees.

Those residents along the route of the new sewer line are also unhappy with the additional annual tax load of $97 just for the privilege of residing along the line even though they don't have to connect. They should be happy, at least they are not burdened with the $568 user fee. Incidentally, those taxes are parcel taxes. When Council deliberated on financing options for the Fire Halls they decided that parcel taxes were unfair and opted for using the general taxation option based on property values. Why is it unfair for the Fire Hall but fair for the sewer line?

As the Director of Finance said: "To date ... the District has not received any letters of opposition to the budget therefore it is anticipated to be adopted in its original form." If everyone is happy with the tax and fee increases then no action is necessary. However, if you feel that a nearly 10% tax increase and escalating fee increases are not helping your personal budget then you should let Council know about it! You can only be heard if you speak up!

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Lavington road upgrades.

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Sports complex revisited.

Interesting discussions in Vernon Council. The January 26th referendum is still pending yet Council is discussing another potential major expenditure. We must be loaded with money to find all sorts of "needed projects" on which to spend taxpayers money on the brink of a recession. If they find a place to put the complex we would be on the hook for nearly 20% of the costs (or perhaps even more depending on the future of GVSC). Things are humming!

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New centralized business licence takes shape - December 20, 2007

There’s growing questions as to whether the new valley-wide business licence for the Okanagan is part of a convenient plan to centralize an Okanagan-wide business inventory in the central Okanagan as part of the new super regional district initiative.

One by one valley municipalities have joined the proposed initiative seeks to establish a system for mobile businesses to obtain one licence valid throughout the valley, instead of having one for each individual jurisdiction.

The initiative is managed from the offices of the Central Okanagan Regional District.

The Village of Lumby gave the green light to a valley-wide licence for mobile businesses that allows the village to participate in the program that covers communities throughout the Okanagan, as well as the Shuswap and Similkameen.

Mayor Eric Foster believes the new program is just a simple expansion of an ongoing program that the village had been part of already.

“We’ve had it in the North Okanagan for two years,” he said.

For an extra $100, North Okanagan businesses have been able to get a licence for Armstrong, Coldstream Enderby, Lumby, Vernon, Spallumcheen and Salmon Arm.

The new valley-wide project would be similar. For $150 a business could gain access to all of those market areas plus the Central Okanagan Regional District, Lake Country, Osoyoos, Kelowna, Peachland, Keremeos, Oliver, Penticton, Princeton and Summerland.

Most recently, Vernon’s mayor Wayne Lippert presented information on the single business license. After his presentation, the Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors unanimously passed a motion supporting the establishment of a single business license for mobile businesses.

The chamber believes the creation of a single business license will have a positive impact on the economy of Vernon, and will still preserve the City’s ability to regulate business activity within their jurisdiction.

Foster told media that he is not concerned a single business licence will allow large Kelowna-based contractors to pursue projects in Lumby and take away work from local residents.

“For those big outfits, what difference does it make if they have to buy a $150 licence?” he said.

“I have never heard anyone say they won’t come to Lumby to paint houses because they have to pay for a licence.”

The new valley-wide program is for a one-year trial period. “At the end of that year, if it’s not working the way it’s supposed to, change it,” said, Foster.

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Hospital patients, staff hit with virus -- By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star - January 13, 2008

Visitors to Vernon Jubilee Hospital are being asked to either stay away or take precautions upon visiting patients following an outbreak of the Norwalk Virus.

Peter du Toit, Interior Health’s Health Services Administrator for North Okanagan, said the virus hit on the hospital’s medical wards.

“It started with an outbreak of gastro symptoms at the end of last week,” said du Toit Friday morning. “On Thursday, we had 12 patients and 10 staff that were impacted. We put the patients with the symptoms together to help prevent a spread of the virus.”

Visitors to the hospital are greeted with a sign right in the front lobby, explaining that an outbreak of vomiting and diarhhea has occurred, and people are being discouraged to visit patients at this time.

If you do go to see someone in the hospital, you’re encouraged to wash your hands before and after the visit, or after making contact with a patient.

The hospital is monitoring the situation on an hour-to-hour basis.

“The staff and everyone at the hospital is doing a great job to make sure the virus doesn’t get out of hand,” said du Toit. “The Norovirus is extremely contagious.”

Medical information from a website says the Norwalk virus is a common cause of vomiting and diarhhea in winter, and is often called the stomach flu.

The Norovirus group causes viral gastroenteritis predominantly during the winter in temperate climates.

Outbreaks of Norwalk virus usually occur in schools, nursing homes or in group settings, such as banquet halls and cruise ships.

A Norwalk virus infection usually results in illness 24-to-48 hours after exposure, and symptoms last from 12-to-48 hours. The illness is characterized by the quick onset of vomiting and diarrhea. Abdominal cramps are common, and many patients report headache, nausea, and low-grade fever.

Norwalk virus infection is more frequent in older children and adults than in infants and toddlers.

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Important sewer issues.

This discussion is extremely important to Specified Sewer Area 1 (SSA1) customers.

The urgent, last minute decision by the outgoing Council in 2005 of awarding a contract to construct a sewer main extension from McClounie Road to Aberdeen Road has major ramifications for those of us in SSA1. The reason is as follows:

Council reasoned (oxymoron?) that since the original sewer customers only had to pay 7% of the total costs any future sewer customers should pay the same rate for establishing their system. That would have been fine if they also waited for grants from senior governments for the project but they were in too much of a hurry. One might wonder what the urgency was (Coldstream Meadows come to mind, future reduced connection costs to some Council members as well). Nevertheless, they decided that 93% of the funding for the project should come from SSA1 customers and confiscated $665,000 from the sewer reserves and a further $265,000 from the sewer operating funds. I will discuss these issues at length later but I just want to inform sewer customers how gravely this decision will affect them now and in the future if they are not going to fight this decision.

If Council demonstrated urgent need for extending the sewer line at that time they could have convinced senior governments to participate. In fact, they would still be eligible for the Okanagan Basin Waterboard’s 18% grant, as we have been taxed by the OBW for decades for that grant. I understand even the City neglected to claim that grant by oversight (personal communications).

Council is embarking on major extensions of the sewer system. They will try to convince and/or force new customers to hook into these new extensions. However, the precedence was set that all new customers will only have to pay 7% of the costs. Who will pay the rest? You guessed it! It will be US, SA1 customers. Our sewer rates will skyrocket. Is this fair? Of course not! What can we do about it? We must fight it every way we can.

By law Council was supposed to follow certain rules and regulations (designate a specified area for the sewer extension, public hearings, agreement from potential new customers, identifying costs and designating who will pay, timelines etc.). They should have done a pre-design study to identify if there is a real urgency. They have not done that. In fact, they just commissioned a $35,000 study to try to rectify the omission. Mayor Corner implied:

“The one study will TRY (?) and determine the cost of servicing areas to the north and south of the 2006 sewer extension, including Whetzell, Bonavista and DeJong drives. ‘We want to know exactly how to do it,’ said Corner of the possible expansion of the sewer system and the cost. (MS, October 7.) ”

That should have been done before the project started!

Council argued that previous Councils had commissioned and completed a Wastewater Management Plan in 1994. What they neglected to ad is that this study was done to investigate the feasibility of constructing Coldstream’s own sewage treatment plant. Sewage would have been flowing from west to east, treated and disposed on designated lands in Coldstream. It was abandoned and Coldstream continued to send sewage to Vernon. What is the difference? Lots!

Greg Betts, Clerk/Administrator of Coldstream provided a report examining the consequences of continuing to send effluent from the District to the City, a flow from east to west. His report stated the following:

“If the district intends to maintain the current system of sending all effluent from the District to the City via the existing collection mains, prior to reaching the full development of Middleton Mountain, expenditures in the order of $2 million will be required to upgrade the existing mains. In addition, there will be costs to upgrade the transition main beyond the District’s boundary to the City of Vernon plant. A request has been sent to the city to confirm the order of magnitude of these costs; however, this information has not yet been received.”

This huge problem should have also been addressed before the sewer main extension was carried out.

Now that Council has dangerously depleted the sewer reserves and dipped deeply into our operating funds as well they are eager to replenish the treasury at our expense. The proposed budget set the new sewer rate at $568 per year, 29% more than my calculated reasonable rate should be ($440 per year).

I am presently in contact with officials in Victoria to try to get some resolution of the matter. However, it might be that a court action might be necessary. The long term consequences of Council’s action would be huge cost increases for sewer customers. This is not fair and a remedy must be sought wherever possible. It is your money!

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Coldstream Council meeting - January 14

REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLDSTREAM

TO BE HELD ON MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 2008
IN THE MUNICIPAL HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
9901 KALAMALKA ROAD, COLDSTREAM, BC
AT 7:00 PM

A G E N D A (partial) (full agenda)

1. DELEGATIONS

a. Kalamalka Road WW2 Memorial Ginnala Maple Trees

Mr. Fred Wilson may be in attendance to speak to this matter.

b. Comments on the 2008 Proposed Budget

Mr. Gyula Kiss will be in attendance to speak to this matter.

2. PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS COUNCIL

(Total Time Allotted: 10 Minutes)

NOTE: This time is to afford members of the public the opportunity to
address issues on the agenda dated, January 14, 2008. Issues that are not on the current agenda will not be heard by Council. If you have items to address that are not contained in this agenda, please contact the Municipal Clerk to make a formal request to appear as a
delegation at a future meeting of Council.

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Budget blues - should it be $568 or $440. Your choice!

Some of you might be wondering why I am neglecting my blog. In fact, I was busy critically reviewing the budget as it relates to sewer rates and I am producing my first interesting observation on the subject. It seems, the trend of "milking" sewer customers is continuing and it demonstrates that we must stand up for our rights.

Just to tickle your interest I present two documents. The one on the left of the "Cash Cow" was presented at the budget open house in the Municipal Hall on January 7th. It shows the "fixed costs" for the sewer as envisioned by the Director of Finance, a whopping $612,817. A generous $150,000 reserve (about 25% of the "Total Fixed Costs) was added to the total bringing it to $762,817.

Upon reviewing said document I found that ($266,654) was included that was part of the "treatment and disposal bill" the City of Vernon submits to Coldstream. That has nothing to do with fixed Coldstream costs. Removing that sum brings the Total Fixed Costs to $341,100, 25% of which ($82,275) is added as reserve. This is how I arrived at the Base Costs of $423,375.

Using the number of connections (2012) the annual fixed cost per connection (or customer!) is calculated as $210 or quarterly $53.

The City of Vernon submits a bill to Coldstream quarterly. The annual bill from the City for 2008 is estimated at $460,000 (give or take). This figure divided by 2012 is $230 in round figures ($57.50 per quarter).

The base cost of $423,375 plus the treatment and disposal cost of $460,000 totals $883,375. Based on these figures the flat sewer rate for 2008 should be $440 annually or $110 quarterly.

Compare this figure to that proposed by the Director of Finance ($568) and you'll see why Coldstream's sewer customers are considered to be "Cash Cows". Council wants to replenish the Sewer Reserve Fund and we are the best subjects for the project.

Your comments, critiques, as always, are welcome. I will present these findings along with other comments to Council at the next meeting on January 14, 2008 at 7:00 PM at the Municipal Hall. Anybody interested in the subject is welcome.

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Rural directors raiseconcerns over process - By Richard Rolke - January 11

Rural politicians are stepping up pressure against an Okanagan-wide governance review.

The North Okanagan Regional District’s five electoral areas have written a letter to the media expressing concerns about the government-initiated process and the negative impact they believe it could have on communities.

“We have a responsibility to our residents and to the regional board. We need to advise them of what’s going on,” said Herman Halvorson, rural Enderby director, of the decision to issue a letter to the media and the public.

In the letter the five directors claim that a valley-wide change in governance structure could decrease representation for rural areas.

“Specifically, decisions would be made at a centralized level without the appropriate opportunity to fully consider the needs, goals, services and community values of our rural residents, and representatives of urban areas could control the votes,” states the letter.

“We have grave concerns that the governance review currently underway does not provide, in our opinion, for complete and comprehensive public consultation and also, that the province has imposed a timeline that does not allow for meaningful public consultation.”

The directors are also calling for residents to vote on any potential governance changes.

Cliff Kanester, BX-Swan Lake director, believes all residents should take an interest in the current process.

“If we don’t, this thing will be jammed down our throats,” he said.

The governance options vary, but include having one single regional district in the Okanagan or rural areas being annexed into municipalities. Not on the table is maintaining three regional districts as occurs now.

“The provincial government says status quo is not an option but we believe it is an option,” said Halvorson.

NORD’s chairman is disappointed that the electoral directors have issued a letter to the media.

“It’s premature,” said Jerry Oglow, who sits on the committee looking at governance.

“We are only starting the consultation process with elected officials. They are also losing sight of opportunities to deliver a higher level of service that we’ve yet to discuss.”

Oglow also points out that the electoral directors have suggested their areas should form a single municipality or multiple municipalities.

“This (process) could be an opportunity to put this on the table,” he said.

While no public input meetings will be held, Oglow insists the review committee wants to hear from residents.

“We are receiving letters from interested individuals and we will have a Web site set up,” he said.

Politicians from across the Okanagan will meet at the Best Western Vernon Lodge today at 9 a.m. to discuss the governance review.

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Don Quixote's "Winner of the biggest Political Blunder of 2007 Trophy"

Thanks to Don Quixote!

WINNER OF 'What was the biggest Political Blunder of 2007' TROPHY ANNOUNCED

The Blunder of 2007 Title was a close contest but after an exhaustive tabulation of votes our Bean Counters and lawyers Dewy, Cheetum and Howe have certified that Coldstream Council has received 75% of the ballots cast and win the Prestigious Dumb as a Dodo Political Blunder Trophy for 2007 for their perseverance in having a referendum on the Non Farm use of ALR Land.

In second place with a 69% rating for their counter petition ploy for the Library/Civic Centre was the Vernon City Council.

The Bronze medal for third Place goes to NORD for their higher than cost of living pay raises who received a 42% rating.

Technically Vernon City Council with their Residential Tax increase and Business tax decrease did receive a 45% rating and was higher than the NORD blunder but the strict rules of the competition do not allow any Council to win more than 1 medal so as to save Political face and embarrassment.

Posted by Don Quixote at 1/08/2008

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