Crying "we're broke" is no excuse for Mayor Garlick and his council--spurred on to dizzying heights of sleaziness by the ever-protected bureaucrats at the municipal hall--to use tactics that place only a thin veil on what otherwise would be called extortion.
Extortion is a felony, but apparently only for vassals.
Since applying for a building permit to renovate her Kidston Road property, Judy Paterson has been told that "the wealthy should give back to the community" by either gifting land, money or adopting the project of building a multi-use path (affectionately termed a kids-n-ponies path) along her roadfront to the tune of $~300,000.00, she's been told she is a Developer because she applied for a building permit to renovate her 80 year-old farmhouse. By declaring Judy a developer, all alterations to buildings are now considered "development" and subject to off-site works and services - like road works, sewer, etc.
CHBC-TV interview with Judy Paterson is found here:
So are these Coldstream's scare tactics? Likely.
But why, if funds for a kids-n-ponies path are available through the provincial Gas Tax Fund and the Healthy Communities Act "to plan for, develop and operate environmentally sustainable infrastructure".
Judy Paterson has an answer to that: because communities need to own the land on which they wish to develop environmentally sustainable infrastructure. "And I own these 5 acres," says Judy.
Wait a minute. A kids-n-ponies (multi-use) path is infrastructure? (Eligible projects are listed on page 31 of 48 pages here).
Not according to Wikipedia:
The term infrastructure typically refers to ... roads, water supply, sewers, electrical grids, telecommunications...facilitates the production of goods and services, and distribution of finished products to markets, as well as basic social services such as schools and hospitals, etc. So, a kids-n-ponies path is relegated to a community's Wish List, not infrastructure, especially when the path leads to nothing but a Provincial Park. But since the municipality of Coldstream is broke, councillors fervently believe the end justifies the means. They are complicit in this brow-beating of Judy Paterson.
One good thing the Union of B.C. Municipalities meetings have stressed: Point 3.3, bottom of page 11 here: public Annual Reporting and Annual Meetings to ensure transparency and accountability.
Transparency and accountability?
As transparency and accountability requirements have somehow been lost during this Mayor and Council's term in Coldstream, how about adding: decency and respect for residents.
Speaking of transparency and accountability, imagine this scenario:
Wealthy Judy Paterson is no longer wealthy.
Judy has written a cheque to the District of Coldstream for $300,000.00., ostensibly to end this nightmare.
So, Coldstream Municipality: where / how is Judy's gift recorded on your Financial Statement?
Probably under "Lost and Found," offers Kia.
Look under Lost principles.
Or Natural Justice and Procedural Fairness.
Neither of which have been used by Mayor Garlick and this Council for some time.
:( Dislike Coldstream council!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI was glad to see GVRD purchase The "log cabin" property on Kalavista Drive beside the lagoon. I was kinda shocked at the price though. This property sold to the current owner for $875,000 in 2007 when the economy was strong and priced were up. We just paid $875,000 during a recession! The tax appraisal on this property according to a local source is only $586,000! The seller of the property who is well aquainted with some members of Coldstream's current council was either getting a huge tax break and "bail out" by GVRD or our local officials can't count. There was no public consultation as usual and it was done just prior to the next election. Perhaps certain people felt that it was "good timing" in case the next bunch of politicians could count a little better and see that we the taxpayer were way over paying or the tax rolls were way under collecting! I guess it boils down to who you know!
ReplyDeleteThey paid $300,000 too much? No surprise there. The Regional District doesn't care what the price is because they're using our tax money. Wait until the District wants to use the building for something..."public assembly" will raise the ire of neighbours, who even wanted to shut down Alexander's across the street because of "public noise".
ReplyDeleteLook at what happened when the City of Vernon bought the old Lakers golf course near Kin Beach and wanted to rent out the clubhouse. Once they'd spent (yup) tax money on bringing the building into code compliance, neighbours went ballistic and said they didn't want the traffic congestion and noise from late night functions.
It'd be interesting to see a list of which properties/buildings the District of Coldstream and other local governments) own, and how much money they've poured onto them. So much for transparency, huh?