Highlands Golf open for the season

Great weather (20C) for the Easter weekend.
Opening day was Good Friday.

Nice to see our regular customers again; good to know they're all a year older as well *grin*.

Lots of discussion ensued from the new clubhouse sign:

    3 levels of government, all within a 5-minute drive, lead to huge and burgeoning bureaucratic costs in the North Okanagan of B.C.    The 2013 property tax increase is 4.12%

                         

Customers had lots of suggestions on how to reduce costs!
The majority involved getting rid of government(s).
 
"I'd tend bar if I could," offers Kia.

Commercial Irrigation Rates Skyrocket 50 Per Cent

Yup.

"Six businesses, including golf courses and nurseries in Vernon and Coldstream, will see the rate for irrigation water climb 50 per cent," announces the Morning Star today.

"Let the valley revert to desert as people leave..."

Maybe they're hoping we six businesses have a short memory, but we've been through this before--first in 2005, and then here, and here (now that Coldstream Councillor Gyula Kiss seems to be in charge of everything to do with water...including "some benefits" that might accrue from transfer of the area's water licence from upland sources to Kal Lake!)

Some benefits.
Might accrue.

Isn't a water licence a public asset and any plans to transfer it, or change it, or abandon it, or trade it must come before the public for approval?
There is little transparency in local governments in the North Okanagan, as no-one has ever said publicly (out of camera) what these so-called benefits are...

With Councillor Kiss meeting privately with the water consultants, is there any wonder Greater Vernon Water Authority Manager, Al Cotsworth, is retiring at the end of March?  Probably has nothing to do now that Kiss has taken over.

Back to water rates.

Apart from the commercial rate hit, everyone else will see a 3 per cent increase in rates over 2012.  As the Morning Star states, "customers who rarely turn on the tap will start paying more for water."
Proof it was never about conservation (shades of B.C. Hydro!)

Lumby's water rates are increasing too...seems people are conserving so much water that there's not enough revenue to run the utility. 

"Why don't we just deactivate all the water lines," offers an acquaintance, "and let the valley revert to desert as people leave."

"Sounds like Sean Harvey is back," offers Kia.

(The six businesses are:  Highlands Golf, Hillview Golf, Art Knapp's Nursery, Swan Lake Nursery, Tekmar Industries, and Atlantis Water Slides).

Water Meter Readings

NOTE:   The most recent water meter readings are at the bottom of this page.

Duncan McDonald's comments here indicated Coldstream's water bills should--but do not--state the date the meter was read, especially the January to March readings each year.  That's the Quarter used for billing residents' annual sewer rates.

So for future reference, I'll record here when meter readings are made by Coldstream staff (if I notice the meter reader arriving).

Three meters exist here:  residence, clubhouse, and the irrigation meter.

We remove the irrigation meter at the end of irrigation season (usually end-September), store it in the clubhouse, and reinstall it around the end of March annually.

(Private fire hydrant "tax" costs:  2011 = $383.80;  2012 = $454.38;  2013 = $472.29; 2014 = $560.)
Edit:  2016 The horrendous costs of the private unmetered fire hydrant have been successfully challenged, and now are charged at $33.00 per quarter for a total of $132.00 a year).

Meters read March 4, 2013:  clubhouse and residence, irrigation
Invoices received week of April 8, 2013:


Residence:
Pd Jan. 1/13 to Mar. 31/13, Wtr Base $78.12, Wtr Cons $7.84, total bill $85.96 for 28m3 consumption.

Clubhouse:
Pd Jan.1/13 to Mar. 31/13, Wtr Base $78.12, Wtr Cons $78.25, total $156.37 for 0m3 consumption.

Irrigation:
Pd Jan.1/13 to Mar. 31/13, Wtr Consumption $211.10, for 0m3 consumption.
TOTAL 1st QUARTER:  $453.43 for 28m3, equals $16.20 per cubic meter of water consumed (OF 28 M3)!

 Meters read June 4, 2013:  clubhouse, residence, and irrigation
Invoices received week of July 9, 2013:
Residence:
Period April 1/13 to June 30/13, Wtr Base $80.50, Wtr Cons. $34.00, total bill $114.50 for 40m3 consumption. 

Clubhouse:
Pd. April 1/13 to June 30/13, Wtr Base $80.50, Wtr Cons. $80.60, total bill $161.10 for 14 m3 consumption.

Irrigation: 
Pd. Apr 1/13 to June 30/13, Wtr Base Min $80.50, Wtr Cons. 1141 cubic metres, $650.45

TOTAL 2nd QUARTER:  $926.05 for 54m3, equals $17.15 per cubic meter of water consumed! 

Meters read Sept. 5, 2013: clubhouse, residence, and irrigation
Invoices received October 3, 2013:
Residence: 
Period July 1/13 to Sept. 30/13, Wtr Base $80.50, Wtr. Cons. $159.60, total bill $240.10 for 122m3 consumption.

Clubhouse:
Pd. July 1/13 to Sept. 30/13, Wtr Base $80.50, Wtr. Cons. $80.60., total bill $161.10 for 23 m3 consumption.



Irrigation:
Pd. July 13/13 to Sept. 30/13, Wtr Base Min $80.50.  Wtr Cons.  2,021 cubic metres, $1,090.95


Private Fire Hydrant "Tax":  $472.29

TOTAL 3rd QUARTER for 2166 m3 (incl. hydrant tax): $1,964.44, equals $.90 per cubic meter of water consumed!

Meters read Dec. 3, 2013: clubhouse, residence and irrigation
Invoices received January 9, 2014:

Residence:
Pd. Oct. 1/13 to Dec. 31/13:  Wtr Base $80.50, Wtr. Cons. $25.00, total bill $105.50 for 31m3 consumption.

Clubhouse:
Pd. Oct. 1/13 to Dec. 31/13:  Wtr Base $80.50, Wtr. Cons. $80.60, total bill $161.10 for 6 m3 consumption.

Irrigation:
Pd. Oct. 1/13 to Dec. 31/13:  Wtr Base $80.50, Wtr. Cons. $217.45, total bill $297.95 for ZERO m3 consumption.

TOTAL 4th QUARTER: $564.55 for 37m3, equals $15.26 per cubic meter of water consumed!

2013 YEAR COST:  $3,908.47, or $1.71 per cubic meter of water.

Meters read March 6, 2014:  clubhouse, residence, irrigation.  Invoices received April 8, 2014:

Residence:
Pd. Jan. 1/14 to Mar.31/14:  Wtr Base $80.50, Wtr. Cons. $23.00, total bill $103.50 for 29m3 consumption.

Clubhouse:
Pd. Jan. 1/14 to Mar.31/14:  Wtr Base $80.50, Wtr. Cons. $80.60, total bill $161.10 for ZERO m3 consumption.

Irrigation:
Pd. Jan. 1/14 to Mar.31/14:  Wtr Base $80.50, Wtr. Cons. $217.45, total bill $297.95 for ZERO m3 consumption.

TOTAL 1st QUARTER: $562.55, equals $19.40 per cubic meter of water consumed! 

Meters read June 3, 2014:  clubhouse, residence, irrigation.  Invoices received July 8, 2014:

Residence:
Apr. 1/14 to June 30/14:  Wtr Base $99.80, Wtr. Cons. $25.10, total bill $124.90 for 28 m3 consumption.

Clubhouse:
Apr. 1/14 to June 30/14:  Wtr Base $99.80, Wtr. Cons. $38.00, total bill $137.80 for 12 m3 consumption.

Irrigation: 
Apr. 1/14 to June 30/14:  Wtr Base Min $99.80, Wtr. Cons. $322.00, total bill $421.80 for 430 m3 consumption.

Private Fire Hydrant "Tax" (challenged at RDNO/District of Coldstream).  GVAC asking Engineering for a review of private fire hydrant rates.  Highlands offer to donate private fire hydrant to (1) Coldstream, (2) GVW rejected.  Subsequently, no invoice received this year, slated to have been $560.00 (up from $472 in 2013).* NOTE:  INVOICE FOR $560.00 RECEIVED AT YEAR END 2014!

TOTAL 2nd QUARTER:  $684.50, equals $1.46 per cubic meter of water consumed!

Meters read Sept. 3, 2014:  clubhouse, residence, irrigation.
Invoices received early Oct., 2014:

Residence:
July 1/14 to Sept. 30/14:  Wtr base $99.80, Consumption $65.00, total bill $164.80 for 57 m3.

Clubhouse:
July 1/14 to Sept. 30/14:  Wtr base $99.80, Consumption $38.00, total bill $137.80 for 20m3.

Irrigation:
July 1/14 to Sept. 30/14:  Wtr base $99.80, Consumption $1,666.00, total bill $1,765.80 for 2222 m3.

TOTAL 3rd QUARTER:  $2,068.40, equals $0.90 per cubic meter of water consumed!

Meters read (? date):  clubhouse, residence, irrigation.  Invoices received early January, 2015:

Residence:
October 1/14 to December 31/14:  Wtr base $99.80, consumption $41.00, total bill $140.80 for 41m3.

Clubhouse: 
October 1/14 to December 31/14:  Wtr base $99.80, consumption $38.00, total bill $137.80 for 7 m3.

Irrigation:
October 1/14 to December 31/14:  Wtr base $99.80, consumption $208.00, actual consumption 0m3.  Plus UNMETERED FIRE MAIN 150MM $560.00 (this is the first occasion that the fire hydrant--formerly invoiced by GVW--has now been invoiced by District of Coldstream), total bill $867.80.

TOTAL 4th QUARTER: $586.40 (omitting fire hydrant's non-consumption charge) is 21 m3 total water consumed, equals $27.92 per cubic meter of water consumed!

2014 YEAR COST:  2,819 M3 CONSUMPTION, TOTAL $3,901.85.  EQUALS $1.34/M3


2015:
Meters read (? early March 2015):  clubhouse, residence (but not irrigation meter, which is removed for winter with backflow prevention and stored in heated clubhouse until reinstallation in spring).

Residence:
Jan.1/15-Mar31/15:  water base 99.80, consumption 25.10.  total bill $124.90 for 28m3

Clubhouse:
Jan.1/15-Mar31/15:  water base 99.80, consumption 38.00.  total bill $137.80 for 0 m3

Irrigation:
Jan.1/15-Mar31/15:  NOTE:  THIS BILL WAS INCORRECT, VERIFIED BY RDNO'S ZEE MARCOLIN IN A PHONE CONVERSATION APRIL 16/15.  COLDSTREAM'S "LORI" STATED SHE WILL ISSUE CORRECTED BILL:  (in the meantime, it read as follows):
Jan.1/15-Mar31/15:  water base 99.80, consumption 208.00, unmetered fire main $118.07, for zero m3, total invoice $425.87.  (Ms. Marcolin said the fire main charge should've been $33.00/Q "as rates have only gone up 2%".

Amended Irrigation Invoice received April 21/15, with letter: "Prior to 2014, the unmetered fire main annual rate was invoiced by GVW, through the RDNO.  The DoC was asked to invoice the annual rate for unmetered fire mains in 2014.  This annual charge was invoiced on your 4thQ 2014 invoice.  Please be advised that the Unmetered Fire Main charge was invoiced in error on your 1stQ 2015 utility invoice.  A credit for that charge (is) will be applied to your account.  For your information the annual rate for Unmetered Fire Main has been changed to a Q rate in the new GVW rates imposition bylaw no. 2672, 2015 which is effective April 1, 2015."  L.Arthur, Utility Clerk.

Irrigation:
Jan.1/15-Mar31/15:  water base min $99.80, consumption $208.00, unmetered fire main $118.07, for zero m3.  Reversal ADJ17 Fire Main -$118.07.  Total amount due: $307.80.

Meters read June 8, 2015:  clubhouse, residence, irrigation.
Invoices received July 10/15:

Residence: 
April 1/15-June 30/15:  water base $101.80, consumption 32.88.  total bill $134.68 for 34m3 (works out to $3.96 per cubic metre total!)
Clubhouse:
April 1/15-June 30/15:  water base $101.80, consumption 38.00.  total bill $139.80 for 12 m3. (works out to $11.65 per cubic metre total!)
Irrigation:
April 1/15-June 30/15:  water base $101.80, consumption 1,243.00.  unmetered fire main 150mm $33.00.  total bill $1,377.80 for 1351 m3

Meters read Sept. 8, 2015:  clubhouse, residence, irrigation.
Invoices received Oct. 7/15:

Residence:
July 1/15-Sept 30/15:  water base $101.80, consumption 160.53.  total bill $262.33 for 107m3 (works out to $2.45 per cubic metre total!)
Clubhouse:
July 1/15-Sept. 30/15: water base $101.80, consumption 38.00.  total bill $139.80 for 21 m3 (works out to $6.66 per cubic metre total!)
Irrigation:
July 1/15-Sept.30/15:  water base $101.80, consumption $1,968.88.  unmetered fire main 150mm $33.00.  total bill $2,103.68 for 2,140 m3

Meters read Dec. 9, 2015:  clubhouse, residence, irrigation.  Invoices received January 12/16:

Residence:
Oct. 1/15-Dec 31/15:  water base $101.80, consumption $32.88.  total bill $134.68 for 34m3 (works out to $3.96 per cubic metre)
Clubhouse:
Oct. 1/15-Dec 31/15:  water base $101.80, consumption $38.00.  total bill $139.80 for 6m3 (works out to $23.30 per cubic metre)
Irrigation:
Oct. 1/15-Dec. 31/15:  water base $101.80, consumption $208.00.  unmetered fire main 150mm $33.00.  (works out to $3.64 per cubic metre) for 85 cubic metres
 
2015 Year cost per cubic metre totals, percentage of allocation.
Residence annual consumption:  203 cubic metres = $3.23 per cubic metre
Clubhouse annual consumption:  39 cubic metres = $14.29 per cubic metre
Irrigation annual consumption:  3,576 cubic metres = $1.11 per cubic metre

Highlands Golf allocation 10.0035 acres (4.05 hectares).  22,275 cubic metres allowed annually.

Year	Consumption	Percent of Allocation
2011	2,986	13.4
2012	2,953	13.2
2013	3,162	14.2
2014	2,819	12.7
2015	3,576	16.1

 
2015 saw Highlands Golf use 16.1% of its allocation of 22,275 cubic metres. 

2016:
Meters read date????:  clubhouse, residence, irrigation.  Invoices received first week April/16:

Residence:  Jan.1/16-Mar.31/16 base $101.80, consumption $21.90 for 25 m3 water, total $123.70
Clubhouse:  Jan.1/16-Mar.31/16 base $101.80, consumption $38.00 for 0m3 water, total $139.80
Irrigation: Jan.1/16-Mar.31/16 base $101.80, consumption $208.00 for 0 m3 water, unmetered fire main 150mm $33.00.  total $342.80 !!

Meters read June 6, 2016:  clubhouse, residence, irrigation.
Invoices received July 7/16, due July 29/16 (property taxes were due 07/04/16!)
 invoice attachment (click images to enlarge)

Residence:  Apr.1/16-June 30/16 base $95.00, consumption $74.26 for 67 m3, water meter renewal fee $7.00 <26mm b="" nbsp="" total="">a base rate decrease of $6.80, with a $7.00 new Q charge for meter renewal = 20 cents MORE on fixed cost
)

Clubhouse:  Apr.1/16-June30/16 base $95.00, consumption $25.28 for 16m3, water meter renewal fee $7.00 <26mm b="" total="">a base rate decrease of $6.80, with a $7.00 new Q charge for meter renewal = 20 cents MORE on fixed cost
)
Irrigation:  Apr. 1/16-June 30/16 base $95.00, consumption $1,269.84 for 1,145 m3, water meter renewal fee $35.00 <27-55mm 150mm="" b="" fire="" main="" total="" unmetered="">a base rate decrease of $6.80, with a $35.00 new Q charge for meter renewal = $28.20 increased fixed cost
)

NOTE:  consumption minimum of $38.00 no longer applies; $12.72 saved this Q on consumption, which will be a benefit (procedural fairness!) during Q1 and Q4 whenClubhouse consumption is zero or less than 24m3.

 
Meters read Monday, Sept. 12/16 (note that invoices state billing period is to September 30th!)

Residence:  July 1/16-Sept.30/16 base $95.00, consumption $83.74 for 73m3, water meter renewal fee $7.00, total invoice $185.74.

Clubhouse:  July 1/16-Sept.30/16 base $95.00, consumption $42.66 for 27m3, water meter renewal fee $7.00, total invoice $144.66.

Irrigation:  July 1/16-Sept.30/16 base $95.00, consumption $1,880.34 for 1,695m3, water meter renewal fee $35.00, unmetered fire main $33.00, total invoice $2,043.34.  (Ouch!)



 
   

I Hate Year-End

...not because it's a few days' work.

Because it's proof of local government's gouging. 

"Up, up and away, in my beautiful balloon..."

Sure I knew what I paid in 2012.

After all, I wrote the cheques. 

But year end is a chance to see it in black and white.

Or red, or in brackets.
In all its ugliness.
That's when the inequities, the unfairness, the lack of justice becomes apparent.
And it's always local government's invoices.
They hope nobody notices their tactics.

Consider water taxes.
I'll cut to the chase and declare that this property's water costs increased by 28% from last year.

Yup...twenty-eight per cent! 

Water taxes really get my goat.

And this goat knows they're only blowing smoke up your skirt when they say it's about Water Conservation.

There are 4 water invoices for this property:  The fire hydrant is billed annually, but the residence, irrigation, and clubhouse are billed quarterly.

Maybe quarterly billings are employed to make it easier for us to pay?
Kinda like paying for your car or fire insurance in installments.
Nah, it's so they can charge you a flat amount PLUS consumption in each Q.
Funny thing...I'm old enough to remember when a basic (minimum) charge was levied only if there was no consumption.
But I digress.

"It's to teach us to conserve the precious resource," you might say.
Bullshit.
Echoing bureaucrats' statements doesn't make it more palatable.

Last year, Highlands Golf irrigation usage was lower than in 2011.
Noteworthy for the previous year is that our irrigation consumption warranted a letter from the Regional District that proved we used only 10% (yes, one-tenth) of our paid-up annual water allocation.
No congratulations, but that's okay.

So we are conserving the water resource.
Yet our total water costs increased by $595.73 over the previous year.
That's why they call it precious.

And they manipulate timing of reading meters to serve their purposes, as in this example from Coldstream.
No date mentioned on when the meter was read.
Is that even legal?

Bureaucrats are the Tails that wag the Dogs, the elected officials.

Bureaucrats use reverse accounting to fill municipal coffers.
Governments decide upfront how much money they want and divide by the number of customers.

Governments extort money from residents with unsavory tactics.  Interesting indeed there's an example of how to report such tactics from, of all places, Quebec, that historical hotbed of graft and corruption.  Another deals with public sector transparency from Asia, also well-known for underhanded dealings.

Even where a community's population is increasing--and it hasn't appreciably around here--up go the rates.More than inflation, more than taxpayers' wage increases, more than can be justified...ever.
If only business could do that!

So it's increased service that raises rates?
Nope.

An example is the unparalleled gouging for Highlands' private fire hydrant which, in 10 years, has never consumed the "precious resource". 

In 2012, the fire hydrant tax was $454.38.
In 2011, it was $383.80.
In 2002, it was $266.00.

And property taxes...in 2012 property taxes increased by 37.8 per cent (yup...thirty-seven point eight per cent) over 2011.
...so I posted a sign in the clubhouse to show that.
Customers expressed outrage and recounted their own tales of local government gouging. 

"My kibbles only increased 3 per cent last year," admonishes Kia.

Should've bought Gold in 2005.
Just to keep up with local government's gouging. 
It was $518.00 per ounce then.

Coldstream's Billing Tactics Hitting the Fan

ADDENDUM 3:30 pm POST-PUBLISH: 
Oops...sorry!

"Just to clarify, the sewer rate for the year is set using the first quarter readings ie: Jan 1 - Mar 31 each year (or whatever dates DoC actually read the meters prior). "  D.McDonald




Sure, water bills are high.
As are sewer charges.

Ever on the hunt for more money from residents' wallets, the District of Coldstream has resorted to inflating your sewer rates by reading the fourth quarter late--adding another week of water consumption--as discovered by Duncan McDonald of Coldstream when he gathered up his bills.

What tipped him off is they showed his household using more water in the fourth quarter, with no change in habits.
Every year.
Always in the fourth quarter.

Something stank in Coldstream.
Proof was when meters were read (which Duncan had noted).

It's the last quarter's water meter readings that determine residents' sewer charges for the year.

Reading water meters 7 or 8 days beyond the end of the last quarter equates to another week of consumption, hence, flushing the toilet!

How convenient this coincidence is for Coldstream's coffers!

Sure, invoices always state the period covered, and the quarters are always stated as ending when we expect them to end...March 31st for the 1st Q, June 30th for the 2nd Q, September 30th for the 3rd Q, and December 31st for the 4th Quarter...365 days a year divided by 4 equals meter readings approximately every 91 days.  Except the fourth quarter, which Duncan discovered was ~98 days.


He calculated that one additional week resulted in an additional $70 being added to his annual sewer charges.

"the district has picked up some much needed cash through deceptive practices."     D.McDonald

So he contacted the District.

Here is Duncan McDonald's "comment" (placed on this blog's "Developer" article of January 10, 2013).


"Duncan McDonald January 11, 2013

How's this for a pound flesh from potentially each and every sewer customer in Coldstream... different topic (to the Developer story) but related all the same.

Maybe it was only myself who was naive enough to believe that my water and sewer invoices were billed as indicated. I contacted DoC to find out what dates my water meter was read as it seemed we had pretty high usage for the first 8 days of January when the latest bill arrived. I was advised that the billing dates and the actual usage dates were not in sync and our meter had actually been read Sept 4th and again Dec 6th to comprise this latest bill, despite what is clearly stated on my invoice, "Billing Period: 01/10/12 - 31/12/12". Officially, the software DoC uses is apparently not sophisticated enough to reflect each individual users ACTUAL billing cycle. Right.

"I estimate I was overcharged roughly $70 for the year, which isn't a lot of money, but is (was!) mine. Of greater concern is whether or not everyone in Coldstream was subject to this "stretching" of their billing period as well. 3000 users (give or take) overpaying $70 each per year equals a tidy $210K... not bad for doing nothing."   D.McDonald.

No biggie except that when I then requested my meter reading dates from the past year they were as follows, according to the email from DoC; 'In your particular case, your water meter was read on December 6/12. Prior to this it was read September 4/12, June 4/12, March 9/12, and December 2/11.'

Dec 2/11 - March 9/11(sic.../12) is 98 days, about 9% longer than an average quarter. Again, this would not matter at all except this is the period that DoC uses to calculate the sewer rate for the ENTIRE year! I estimate I was overcharged roughly $70 for the year, which isn't a lot of money, but is (was!) mine. Of greater concern is whether or not everyone in Coldstream was subject to this "stretching" of their billing period as well. 3000 users (give or take) overpaying $70 each per year equals a tidy $210K... not bad for doing nothing.

My query was very quickly escalated to senior management (Thanks Trev!) who promptly dismissed my query as an uninformed rate payer unable to understand basic mathematical principles. After several emails back and forth they simply ignored me and left their stance as follows (email from Seibel):

""""Your query was not dismissed and I certainly apologize if that is the way it came across. As noted previously, there is a defined process for the timing of the meter reads and this process is applied to everyone the same. There was not a miscalculation of the consumption rates for the 1st quarter 2012 billing cycle as it was based on the meter read taken at that time. I understand your concern with the 7 day variance between a “normal” (or equal) quarterly cycle of 91 days and the 98 days for the 2012 1st quarter read. However our meter reading process was followed consistently and all meter reads obtained under the same approach. There is no definitive way to say that the consumption values were equally incurred over the 98 days and as a result there is no way to validate the figures you provided.

There are many factors that impact the meter reading for the 1st quarter including weather, human resources and functioning equipment (meter reading equipment and obtaining a read from the house meter). Based on the fact that the process was applied consistently for all meter reads in the 1st quarter of 2012 I find no basis to provide a rebate to your account.

Thank you,
Trevor Seibel""""

In reading Mr Seibel's response, it is pretty clear that all residents were subjected to this little cash grab and the district has picked up some much needed cash through deceptive practices. So far, it appears the buck really starts and stops with the utility provider and is not regulated or overseen in any fashion.

I guess I will contact the mayor next, we'll see how that goes!"

"How convenient for Coldstream," admits Kia, "probably why the District NEEDED to hire a chartered accountant."

Coldstream received ~$210,000 over and above what residents owed for sewer!

Mr. McDonald will be interested to learn even that amount is conservative.
Because the Highlands Golf property is on septic ... as are most rural properties in Coldstream.
And rural properties on septic pay sewer charges.

Anybody willing to take odds on the same gouging tactic occurring in Vernon?
And the regional district's septic areas?

No takers...
No surprise there.

Sustaining Coldstream...Nulli Secundus.
Second to none in deceiving residents.
Add it to the list.