Government Dishonesty

They lie to their citizens.
They create unparalleled debt that burdens us today.

"...a debt tsunami of global proportions".

"...the right to create the nation's money was usurped by the publicly owned but privately controlled Bank of Canada in 1935 that our debts started their meteoric rise." 

Debt cripples successive generations.
It'll never be paid off.
Never.

Are we talking about a third-world government?  Yes, but...
First-world nations and provincial governments are no better.


This letter to the editor by Dennis Milligan, published today in the Morning Star, is excellent and deserves to be widely distributed.

"...lending at usury was considered a heinous crime..."

Entitled Debt Clock Points to Bigger Problem, Dennis tells it very well:

"Your July 5th edition showed a photo of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation's mobile debt cock.

It indicated that British Columbia's provincial government debt stood at $57.5 billion.  Confusingly, the photo's caption refers to it as the federal debt clock.

I'd like to clarify a few issues that arise from that error.

B.C.'s debt is indeed $57.5 billion and it costs B.C. taxpayers well over $2 billion to service that debt every year, even at today's record-low interest rates.

The federal government's debt is now $616 billion and, according to StatsCan, costs Canadian taxpayers $160 million a day.

Add the $600 billion owed collectively by the provinces and the $1.6 trillion of domestic debt -- mortgages, business loans, credit card debt, student loans, etc. and you will see that it's nearly three times Canada's $1.3 trillion GDP -- the value of our entire economy.

And we still haven't accounted for municipal government debt or $1 trillion in unfunded liabilities like CPP, EU and Medicare for which no funding has been set aside.

We are in deep trouble and the subject should be top of every government agenda.  Governments are not telling us the truth about the seriousness of our debt problem and are doing taxpayers a great disservice when they suggest that what we are facing is merely a slow-down in the world economy.

We are in fact facing a debt tsunami of global proportions and harsh solutions like raising taxes even further, cutting social programs or selling off public assets are but Band-Aid attempts to delay the inevitable bankruptcy that stems from a debt curve now going ballistic, largely because of compounding interest.

How do we ever get out of such a mess?  Well, in biblical times, when lending at usury was considered a heinous crime, the simple solution to un-repayable debt caused by money-lenders' interest lay in declaring a Jubilee.  Every 50 years, all debt was forgiven.  Leviticus: 25 spells it out pretty clearly.

The constitutionally based policies that guided Canada from the time of Confederation in 1867 to 1934 kept the nation on a virtual flat-line of debt.

It was only after the right to create the nation's money was usurped by the publicly owned but privately controlled Bank of Canada in 1935 that our debts started their meteoric rise.

The answer looks pretty simple -- return to government-created money administered and controlled by an accountable Minister of Finance and thus recover from the international banks the sovereign right bestowed upon our elected government by Section 91 of the Constitution Act.

It's time to face the simple fact that government debts are now absolutely unrepayable under our presently fatally flawed debt money system and that our debt clock is somebody's profit clock.

With all 122 nations of the world in debt who do we owe it all to if not a faceless and flawed private banking system?  It would be totally unconscionable to pass this burden on to our children unaddressed."

Dennis Milligan

 

"Dennis has my vote for Premier, or Prime Minister...heck, how about Mayor?" offers Kia.

And for our friends south of the border, here are some numbers based on who was in power.
Frightening indeed. 

"I see the demise of the 'middle class'," predicts Kia. 

 

Attaboy, Richard!

Rolke, not Enns.

Or maybe the heading should've read:  You Just Can't Fix Stupid.

Richard Rolke, reporter with The Morning Star addressed the dangerous activity of cliff diving in his Editorial published July 24th, 2013.

The other Richard--Councillor Enns with the District of Coldstream--wants Search and Rescue to use a different boat launch, one approximately 3 km further from the cliff diving accident, because the Kalavista boat launch was so...(wait for this gem)...busy.  He prattled:  "It seems emergency services chose the wrong boat launch to use -- the busiest boat launch on one of the busiest weekends."

So?

We all know cliff diving is stupid.
We all know you can't legislate intelligence, and some people will continue to make bad choices.

But Coldstream Council discussing which boat launch an emergency crew should use? 
That Council excels at logistics and training versus emergency crews?

Sheesh!

What ticked off Richard the reporter was the District of Coldstream's response(s) during the Council meeting as councillors to-and-fro'd about Search and Rescue's decision of which boat launch was used to effect the rescue of the victim.


The reporter continued:  "Obviously Search and Rescue can (and does) take measures to ensure the flow of vehicle traffic, especially for ambulances, but did this really warrant debate at Coldstream council?  What's next -- slamming the fire department for blocking off busy Kalamalka Road because of a blaze or pointing fingers at RCMP officers when an accident slows traffic down?"

He concludes "...some perspective was brought to the entire discussion...Councillor Kiss dismissed the need to develop boat launch protocols, as these events are fortunately rare."

Greatly enamored of their broad powers, this mayor and council are keen to "fix" everything.

"Except their own stupidity," offers Kia.

That's something that's up to residents to fix.

Code for America

...could easily translate into Code for Canada.
Simply because of need.

"Revenues are down, costs are up -- if we don't change how cities work, they're going to fail."

Andrew Greenhill, City of Tucson mayor's office

Started in 2009 by Jennifer Pahlka, Code for America is described by Wikipedia as:  “...Code for America helps city governments become more transparent, connected and efficient by connecting the talents of cutting-edge web developers with people who deliver city services and want to embrace the transformative power of the web to achieve more impact with less money. Inspired in part by Teach for America, CfA works with city officials and leading web development talent to identify and then develop web solutions that can then be shared and rolled out more broadly to cities across America.” 

Jennifer states its programmers--"nerds"--bridge the gap between governments and the taxpaying public so that resources (tax revenue) can be spent wisely, and transparently, often saving considerable time and money because project timelines are substantially reduced.  Code for America provides local governments with tools to monitor project effectiveness and evaluate the allocation of resources...in other words, is your local government doing what the public wants -- efficiently and effectively.

An offshoot that showed tangible results was Ben Berkowitz' ClickFix in 2008:  What if reporting graffiti or a broken traffic light or a clogged storm drain was as easy as snapping a photo with your mobile phone? What if that report was sent directly to all the groups that might give a damn, including city hall, the police department, the local utility company, and the neighborhood watch?  Even better, what if all your neighbors could see those nearby reports and lend their own voices to apply pressure and get problems fixed?

But does it work?  Not only was Ben's initial graffiti problem solved, to date 2,700 other user-submitted community problems have been dealt with as well on the "open 311" program that can be used for anything from reporting potholes to the public works department to reporting unauthorized activity around a commercial activity to police at night.

It can indeed be called Government 2.0.

Authors Tapscott and Williams co-wrote a book "Macrowikinomics" which opens government up to the public in a way government would never have considered.

Especially by bureaucrats who frankly don't seek that high level of public "interaction". 

Mayors need to know it's not bureaucrats who decide that.

Mayors need to know the system is not only effective but that communities will save money.

So what if bureaucrats begin to feel they're not nearly as important as they--or the Mayor and Council--thought.

Mr. Tapscott cited a recent conversation with the chief executive of Melbourne. He suggested to her that one way to apply his open-government approach would be to make public all of the city’s information on bicycle accidents and where they happen.

“I said to her, ‘If you release all that data, within 24 hours someone will do a mash-up and you will be saving lives within weeks, and it won’t cost you a penny,”’ Mr. Tapscott said.

Jennier Pahlka concludes:  "it is also about the government being useful to you in your daily life and engaging you in your daily life."  

All that bureaucracy everyone chides has had a wonderful byproduct — it's collected a lot of data over the years.

While civic technology might not be the sexiest sector, it's an area that's ripe for innovation. All that bureaucracy everyone chides has had a wonderful byproduct — it's collected a lot of data over the years. Were that data to be digitized and made actionable through APIs and innovative apps, our cities could reach a new level of efficiency, saving millions or billions of taxpayer dollars in the process — a welcome break in the face of budget cuts.  The Open311 system description is here.

The bottom line is that taxpayers have the ideas--albeit often too many ideas/solutions with little access to all the facts to which council and bureaucracy are privy--which Code for America...Canada...could innovate.

"There is something very big starting to happen at the intersection of the consumerization of the enterprise and government."

Abhi Nemani, CfA's director of strategy and communications. 

Plus...as Pahlka says:  government can (then) speak "nerd" and nerds can (then) speak "gov".

"I see the demise of traditional consulting work," offers Kia.

No loss there, Kia.

Many of Urban Systems' (of Kelowna) consulting projects for the District of Coldstream didn't produce what taxpayers wanted anyway.  Why?  Because bureaucrats decided for taxpayers what the project parameters would be.

See what Toronto has done with their Open 311 system that includes mobile apps:  here

Pooh-Poohing Artisan Displays

A few years ago, the District of Coldstream pooh-poohed an individual's desire to sell sunglasses in a small and unobtrusive tented booth (or was is to rent surfboards?) at Kalamalka Beach.

Whichever it was, our Mayor and Council said NO then.

No support for an individual's initiative.
No support for things that other communities have done well.

Coldstream's done it again.

This time they said NO to the Regional District of North Okanagan, who contacted Coldstream to ascertain support for a pilot program where artisans could display their works for the 2014 summer season.

Sigh.

Kelowna City Park has an artisans program, and it certainly adds to the ambiance of families and tourists strolling through City Park along the waterfront.

Back to Kalamalka Lake Beach.
A Coldstream Committee of the Whole meeting reported that Councillor Enns moved--and Councillor Kiss seconded--that the "The District of Coldstream does not support the proposal to issue Artisan Vendor Permits on Kal Beach."

"Heaven forbid there'd be something interesting and stimulating to attract people to the beach," snorts Kia.

Food vendors/concession contractors are present both at Kin Beach and Kal Beach.
None had any objections to an Artisans program.

Heaven forbid that Kalamalka Lake beach would draw as much interest as Kelowna's beachfront.
Heaven forbid that this area would actually draw economic activity.

And who knew that Kal Beach is actually zoned residential ?

Pooh-poohers are running the District of Coldstream.

Highlands Golf Water Allocation and Usage

Water allocations "run with the land".
They can't be sold back to the water utility, nor can they "go with you" when you sell and move.

Water allocations are paid (up front) and determine the allowable annual usage of water.

We bought the property in 1975 (ouch...long ago...).

In the ensuing years (mostly farming ~1,100 apple trees, 600 Christmas trees), and then the golf course, we continued to purchase additional water allocation.

Husband often said:  "This place is worthless without water on it."

Now and then one hears statements from a misinformed public complaining that golf courses waste/use too much water, so the purpose of this entry is to show how much water my golf course uses for irrigation and compare it to our allowable use (paid-for) allocation.

Note:  the very small water usage by the residence and clubhouse (on 2 separate water meters) is not included.

HIGHLANDS GOLF ALLOCATION:

10.0035 acres of water = 22,275 cubic metres of water allowed for annual use.  (Source: RDNO, Becky Johnstone, July 12,2013)



IRRIGATION USAGE:

2011                                   =  2,986 cubic metres  (13.4%)

2012                                   =  2,953 cubic metres  (13.2%)

2013                                   =  3,162 cubic metres   (14.9%)



"A pat on the back is what this facility deserves," suggests Kia, adding "but who gets YOUR UNUSED 86 per cent of water every year?"


No idea how to answer that, but we obviously bought too much water all those years ago.

Professor Plimer versus the Prius

...and Professor Plimer wins with this compelling summation on Carbon Dioxide's presence in our atmosphere.

Plimer:  "...here's the bombshell.  The volcanic eruption in Iceland.  Since its first spewing of volcanic ash has, in just four days, negated every single effort you have made in the past 5 years to control CO2 emissions on our planet...all of you.

Of course, you know about this evil carbon dioxide that we are trying to suppress -- it's that vital chemical compound that every plant requires to live and grow and to synthesize into oxygen for us humans and all animal life.

I know...it's very disheartening to realize that all of the carbon emission savings you have accomplished while suffering the inconvenience and expense of driving Prius hybrids, buying fabric grocery bags, sitting up till midnight to finish your kids "The Green Revolution" science project, throwing out all of your non-green cleaning supplies, using only two squares of toilet paper, putting a brick in your toilet tank reservoir, selling your SUV and speedboat, vacationing at home instead of abroad, nearly getting hit every day on your bicycle, replacing all of your 50 cent light bulbs with $10 light bulbs...well, all of those things you have done have all gone down the tube in just four days.

The volcanic ash emitted into the Earth's atmosphere in just four days -- yes, FOUR DAYS -- by that volcano in Iceland (Eyjafjallajökull) has totally erased every single effort you have made to reduce the evil beast, carbon.  And there are around 200 active volcanoes on the planet spewing out this crud at any one time -- every day.

I don't really want to rain on your parade too much, but I should mention that when the volcano Mt. Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines in 1991, it spewed out more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than the entire human race had emitted in all its years on earth.

Yes folks, Mt. Pinatubo was active for over one year -- think about it.

Of course, I shouldn't spoil this 'touchy-feely tree-hugging' moment and mention the effect of solar and cosmic activity and the well-recognized 800-year global heating and cooling cycle, which keeps happening despite our completely insignificant efforts to affect climate change.  

And I do wish I had a silver lining to this volcanic ash cloud, but the fact of the matter is that the bush fire season across the western USA and Australia this year alone will negate your efforts to reduce carbon in our world for the next two to three years.  And it happens every year.

Just remember that your government just tried to (or has) impose(d) a whopping carbon tax on you, on the basis of the bogus 'human-caused' climate-change scenario.

Hey, isn't it interesting how they sometimes don't mention 'Global Warming' anymore, but just 'Climate Change' - you know why?  

It's because the planet has cooled by 0.7 degrees in the past century and these global warming bull artists got caught with their pants down.

And, just keep in mind that you might yet have an Emissions Trading Scheme -- that whopping new tax -- imposed on you that will achieve absolutely NOTHING except make you poorer.  

It won't stop any volcanoes from erupting, that's for sure.
And your 'leaders' and 'experts' will NOT care for you to tell them any of this."

Ian Rutherford Plimer is an Australian geologist, professor emeritus of earth sciences at the University of Melbourne, professor of mining technology at the University of Adelaide, and the director of multiple mineral exploration and mining companies.  He has published 130 scientific papers, six books and edited the Encyclopedia of Geology.  Notable awards:  Eureka Prize (1995, 2002); Centenary Medal (2003), Clarke Medal (2004).

"He didn't even mention Mt. St. Helens," offers Kia, "or the Kelowna fires."

...wonder what the BC Government is doing with the Carbon Tax payments.  Never mind...we know...just more gouging of residents.  And wasting the money.  

Government Debt = Our Debt

Debt.  Debt.  Debt.

In British Columbia, the DAILY interest payment is $6.84 million.
Interest only!
Per day.

Debt continues to grow at a rate of $215 per second!
$12,854 per minute, $771,233 per hour.
$18.5 million per day.


British Columbia's debt by the year 2016 was forecasted by our provincial government to increase to $69.7 billion.

That's the provincial government.

The Federal government of Canada?
The fed spends $31 billion per year just paying the annual interest on the debt.

The Canadian Taxpayers' Association stated:  "Between 1997 and 2008 the federal government was running surplus budgets and paying down our debt. Every cent and more of that $105 billion paid-off during the decade has now been re-borrowed and spent. Canada’s federal debt has risen from $457 billion in 2008 to over $600 billion."

Un-bloody-believable, huh?

And our cities and municipalities aren't doing taxpayers any favors either. 
No debt transparency exists in the District of Coldstream or City of Vernon.
Good luck looking for a line "Total Debt" on their requisite annual Financial Statement.
You won't find it.

It brings to mind a response from Coldstream's Councillor Kiss--after the District was berated by residents several years ago for their burgeoning debt--"we can be $19 million in debt."   (Coldstream was $3 million in debt at that time).
$3 million then for a population of approximately 10,000 people.
But $19 million debt is allowed by provincial legislation.
How nice!
That legislation was written by the same government that wrote the provincial legislation are the ones who are paying almost $7 million in interest payments.

The District of Coldstream's 2012 Annual Report is a 72-page document-- the Financial section begins on page 30 -- good luck finding what Coldstream's total debt is.

And, lest a reader thinks this article is sour grapes for the NDP losing the May provincial election, let me assure you it is not.
Vehemently assure you it is not!

Back to debt.

Trying to access British Columbia's "debt clock", as suggested by today's Morning Star on the topic, resulted in this prompt:

Secure Connection Failed

An error occurred during a connection to www.debtclock.ca..

SSL received a record that exceeded the maximum permissible length.

(Error code: ssl_error_rx_record_too_long)  The page you are trying to view cannot be shown because the authenticity of the received data could not be verified.
  Please contact the website owners to inform them of this problem. Alternatively, use the command found in the help menu to report this broken site.

How convenient.

Probably crashed from 4.4 million B.C. residents trying to access the clock.

Yet everybody--and I mean everybody--hears government agencies warning consumers to lower their household/family debtload. 
What a crock!

Still a fervent believer in what levels of government are telling you?
Place this book on your Must Read list:  Anatomy of a Con Job, by John T. Wolfe.
 
A quotation to pique interest...er....ah...learning:

“In times of universal deceit, telling the truth will be a revolutionary act.” —George Orwell

"I'm uncharacteristically speechless," sighs Kia.

Divergent Views

Letters to the Editor--lately anyway--epitomize such divergent views!

A letter in today's Morning Star, entitled Fuel Tax, is pretty darn interesting.
Taken together, the letter by Ms. Lissau, to which he refers--(but we have not reprinted)--gives an entire new meaning to drawing apart from a common point.

"Fuel Tax"
I feel like I need to respond to Julia Lissau's letter, "Think of it as a polluter-pay fee." 
What a pile of rubbish.

Once you take out all of the filler and rhetoric from this letter, you are left with the basic fats.  Ms. Lissau is ignoring the fact that not everyone "drives because they can."  Many people drive because they have to.  What about the aged, disabled and infirm?

"...start requiring bike licenses of $150 per bike per year and toll booths on bike paths of $1.50 each use."  W.Brunsdon

What about people who live a long distance from work, family and amenities?

What about people who commute between cities for work?  What about people who drive for a living?  What about mechanics, car salespeople and all of those whose employment is linked to vehicles?

If it is so important to build even more bike paths that will be used six or seven months out of the year, instead of repairing and maintaining the infrastructure we already have, then let bicycle riders pay for it.

Let's start requiring bike licenses of $150 per bike per year and toll booths on bike paths of $1.50 each use.  We could fine those without helmets and put the money toward a true bike utopia.

I know, let's tax spandex shorts.

A fine for all those riding a bike anywhere other than a designated bike path.

All of the above funds to be returned once the global average temperature drops 0.75 degrees over a 20-year span if that drop can be attributed to people riding their bikes.

Clearly the above is over the top, but so is asking people who drive to pay for your hobby.

I think bike paths are fine but not one dime should be spent on them from public funds until all of the roads in Vernon are returned to a reasonable safe state of repair.

Potholes ruin tires and the tires then need to be recycled.  Swerving to avoid potholes crates danger.

As to raising the gas tax, think about the big picture and everyone, not just yourself, before you start to pontificate about how you, as a bike rider, somehow hold the moral high ground."

        Ward Brunsdon



"I'm all for taxing spandex shorts," attests Kia, and adds, "that's what creates the real divergent views, especially from the rear!"

Former Vernon Councillor Speaks Out

...Yet another compelling Letter to the Editor of the Morning Star, published June 30, 2013:

"CORE REVIEW:

When any large organization is examined by a qualified third party there is always the risk of hearing things that may not be comfortable.

"Vernon city council has missed an opportunity... It declined to even study the possibilities."

Shawn Lee

Such has been, I fear, the experience of our city council.  I am referring to the KPMG recommendation that the City of Vernon pursue the amalgamation of the members of the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee into a single municipality.  This recommendation came as a result of examining the various agreements and financial commitments that Vernon has with its immediate neighbours.

Vernon city council has missed an opportunity to look at this perennial issue of one municipal government for Greater Vernon.  It declined to even study the possibilities.

Why decline the opportunity to know and understand?

To this observer, council preferred to respond in the negative by relying on preconceived notions and emotion rather than clearly presented facts.  This to me is a most regrettable decision.

Council took so many good actions with regard to the core services review and yet stepped away from gaining a fuller understanding of the regional governance issue that has been the elephant in the room for so many years.

Alas, we will continue to observe the complicated dance at GVAC, remembering that these various performances are what may have moved KPMG to recommend a single municipality for Greater Vernon in the first place.

I don't believe that amalgamation should be pursued without a clear understanding of the benefits or pitfalls that would accrue to the effected taxpayers.

Without a very clear and honest case for one municipal government, it would require too great a leap of faith on the part of the voters to support such an initiative.  This would be too much to ask.

But I also believe that it is not too much to expect our elected officials to honestly examine the possibility of a single municipal government."

                                            Shawn Lee

"As a former councillor," offers Kia, "he'd know all about the 'dance'."

The Powerful Logic of Michael Tindall

Michael Tindall's letter to the editor today (Morning Star June 28/13) is compelling indeed:

"Amalgamation
So 91 individuals with the City of Vernon earned more than $75,000 in 2012.

What would that number be if we included Coldstream and RDNO employees in the count, perhaps 110 to 120, more?

At the lower number that's an annual and increasing payroll of $8.25 million.

Ask yourself how much of that is duplicated planners, chief administrative officers, fire chiefs, engineers, mayors and councils?  The list goes on.

And of course they all have expense accounts.

So let's address the elephant in the room, amalgamation.

If we draw a 30-kilometre diameter circle with Vernon in the middle, we'd have an area encompassing Vernon, Coldstream and most of Areas B and C in which we have three local governments and all of those expensive, duplicated senior staff we identified earlier.

The population is likely between 60,000 and 70,000 to be generous.

In contrast, Kamloops has a population of 85,000.
Nanaimo has a population of 83,700.
Prince George has a population of 88,000.
Chilliwack has a population of 80,000 (all numbers rounded).

And these jurisdictions get by very nicely with a single mayor and council, with a single complement of senior staff and, without the on-again, off-again interjurisdictional bickering that has shamed Greater Vernon politics for years.

Imagine the more efficient use of your tax dollars with a single mayor and council, a single set of planning regulations and a single set of senior employees.

Imagine actually beginning to replace the aging infrastructure instead of complaining about the size of the deficit.

Imagine moving ahead with planned growth throughout the area.

As a Greater Vernon taxpayer, I observe that the solution to a substantially more efficient use of our tax revenues is within each citizen's grasp.

Demand a referendum on amalgamation be included with the 2014 municipal elections and let's move on from there."
                                Michael Tindall

"Even sometime-minister Ida Chong--after calling for a governance review years ago--waffled and let the ball drop."

Repairing their "reporting imbalance", the Morning Star today provided three segments on Greater Vernon's water plan.

First, Rolke's story "Water Plan Moving Ahead":

A multi-million-dollar, 24-year upgrade to Greater Vernon's water system has overcome a major hurdle.
Regional District of North Okanagan directors approved the master water plan Wednesday, meeting an Interior Health Authority deadline to have a document submitted by today.

"This has been a lot of work," said Patrick Nicol, board chair.

The process began in March 2011 when IHA issued an official order for a master water plan to be developed.

"We analyzed every aspect of the water system and we looked at a number of options," said Dale McTaggard, RDNO's engineering general manager.

The preferred option calls for partial separation for irrigation and domestic uses, with treatment at the Duteau Creek and Mission Hill plants.  Total capital costs would be about $111 million between 2013 and 2037.

"Option two gets maximum separation for the best cost," said McTaggart, adding that not treating irrigation water will reduce operating expenses.

McTaggart believes the option also meets domestic needs, particularly when weather disrupts water supply.

"Already two or three times we've had to switch water sources.  It shows how important it is to have two treatment plants and two sources," he said.

Up to 2017, about $2 million in capital costs can be funded through utility rates but there will be a need to borrow $68 million.

Public assent for borrowing will be required either through a petition or referendum, which could be held in the spring or fall of 2014.  It's anticipated that water rates could double over time.

But even if the referendum fails, the plan could still move ahead.

"If we do nothing, IHA will likely give us an order (to proceed)," said McTaggart."

"...maximum separation for the best cost," quotes Kia, adding "we'll remind them of that as water rates have already increased four-fold in 12 years."


Secondly, Jennifer Smith's story:  "Councillor proposes another option":

New ideas are coming down the pipeline to get better use of local water and taxpayers' dollars.

A $111 million master water plan has been identified, which could see taxpayers going to a petition process or referendum in November 2014.

The plan includes providing filtration at the Duteau Creek treatment plant for $26.5 million and at the Mission Hill plant for $30 million, among other improvements.

While the plan is already being submitted to Interior Health for approval, one local politician says it's not the best use of taxpayer's dollars.

Considering that the majority of domestic water use comes from Mission Hill, Coldstream Councillor Maria Besso suggests the funds be directed solely to that plant.

"Instead of building the plant at Duteau, do filtration at Mission Hill," said Besso, noting that 80 per cent of domestic use is from that station versus only 20 per cent at Duteau.

"It would end up costing us the same amount, we're just doing it in a different order."

Using water usage data from 2011 and 2012, Besso says that in the summer, on a peak day, of the 160 million litres being treated at Duteau it is estimated that only six million litres are for domestic.  The remaining 154 million litres are being sprayed on fields for irrigation.

"It would be a crime to put filtered water on fields," said Besso.

And in the winter, Besso adds, treatment of the average 225 million litres per month at Duteau costs $363 per million litres.  Whereas Mission Hill treatment costs $83 per million litres for the 522 million litres per month.

"I think we're going in the wrong direction," she said.

"Yes, it should be a crime to put filtered--and chlorinated--water on crops," avows Kia, "but where's the interview with the only councillor (G.Kiss) who was given permission to meet with the water consultants?"
 

Third, today's Editorial, entitled "Control Over Water Lacking":

"Nobody likes where water rates have gone in Great Vernon but it appears there's absolutely no choice.

The Regional District of North Okanagan board gave its blessing Wednesday to a master water plan that will cover 24 years and cost a staggering $111 million.

As a result, customers can likely expect utility rates to double in the immediate future.

But it should be pointed out that RDNO didn't initiate this process simply as a make-work project.

In March 2011, the regional district was issued an order from the Interior Health Authority to develop a master water plan.  The authority also dictated a strict deadline for completion--today.

Since 2011, Greater Vernon officials have worked hard to establish a document that will meet the requirements of the IHA, including filtration on the Duteau Creek source.

Now that the master water plan is completed, the next steps include IHA approval and gaining public approval to borrow $68 million.

Except that Greater Vernon's lack of control over the matter doesn't end there.

If, by chance, residents voted down adding to their debt load, IHA could still order the regional district to proceed with borrowing and implementation of the plan.  Public input would be cast aside.

In the end, RDNO has done a thorough investigation of options and has developed a plan that should meet our needs. 

Whether that plan becomes a reality eventually is anybody's guess at this stage of the game.

Stay tuned."

"Just like Coldstream's referendum on the new Municipal Hall--where people voted 'no' and they built it anyway--why don't we save the referendum cost since results 'can be cast aside'," asks Kia..."oh yes, it's Victoria's rules that demand a referendum take place for capital borrowing."


Heaven forbid that we'd save the referendum costs (~$100,000 of taxpayer money) and actually put it towards the master water plan!

Loss of Faith...in Vernon's Mayor and Council

A compelling Letter to the Editor, from the Morning Star, June 26, 2013:

"I have lost faith in the mayor and council.  Why you say?

First the core report, we were told at many public meetings that the report would be completely open and above board.  Well first off, we are not allowed to see the one item (staffing) that we wanted to and were never told we would not.  All we want to see is the basics.  Second we have people telling us that they are doing this and saving that but as the public, we never have seen the final report.  We should have a timelline report with all of the suggestions and if they have been completed, are in the process or not probable.  This should come from the council and mayor, not managers.

Then there's the sports complex.  It was pushed through because the plans were made and they had to get it through to bid on the Senior Games of 2015.

Well, you pushed it through, even if it should have been part of the core report and now they say they are not bidding on 2015 as they want it to be up and running first.  Second, we are sinking more money into it that I was not aware of like many taxpayers.

Now they are making up a committee to finalize the design?

I thought by what was said at the public meetings, that this was the design and now everyone wants to change it again.

The sports complex might have to share parking with transit.

How much more money is this going to cost?  I said that this was going to happen.

Maybe we should stand back and take another look at it if this is what we really want now.

Now we are putting aside 29th Street upgrades (sewers need replacing) but we went ahead with the upgrading of 30th Avenue.
This does not make sense.

Now we have another manager giving out a viewpoint.  Mr. Poole was so glad to say there has been an average of 25,000 to 30,000 square feet of new buildings downtown.

Most of this is in the Tolko building, and two new buildings.  But he neglects to say how many buildings the city had to buy and then tear down or leave vacant to achieve these two new buildings.  They are not even full yet and doubt they will ever be.

When he makes this report, it does not take into consideration all the empty space available downtown or in the city.

Now we have managers having interviews and making pronouncements regarding things that should be coming from the mayor or council as they are our elected representatives, not the paid managers.

A greater amount of taxpayers are getting fed up with how this mayor and council, minus a few councillors who are speaking up for us, are treating us as uneducated and unimportant people.

It is time to make them responsible.  Write to the auditor general and your member of the Legislature and lodge a complaint.  We should look into the prospect of having a recall campaign if possible for these officials."

Garry Haas

 

Invisible Reporter?

Richard Rolke, reporter with the Morning Star, wasn't even there.

Coldstream Councillor Kiss stated that NO media were present at the Thursday, June 13, 2013 Water meeting at the Regional District.
No newspaper, no radio.
Nada.

So where'd this Morning Star story come from three days later?
Or, perhaps more to the point, who wrote it? 

Richard Rolke
"Greater Vernon residents will have a say on multi-million-dollar upgrades.

A petition process or referendum could be held in the spring or in November 2014 to determine if there is public support to borrow funds for the $111 million master water plan.

"It's important for the politicians to allow the public to weigh in on this," said director Jim Garlick.

The initial borrowing could be for $68 million and Garlick says there would be an awareness campaign leading up to any vote.

"The public needs an opportunity to understand the plan and the Interior Health Authority requirements."

A negative vote, though, may not mean borrowing or the project have stalled.

"If it's not supported, there is the opportunity for IHA to step in and order it to be done.  They could order us to borrow without (public) consent," said Garlick.

Option 2 provides for filtration to be provided at the Duteau Creek treatment plant for $26.5 million and at the Mission Hill plant for $30 million. 

There is also raising the height of the Aberdeen damn, an Okanagan Lake pump station, distribution improvements and separating irrigation water in Lavington from domestic use.

The scope of the plan covers until about 2037.

"The master water plan is being brought on us because of IHA requirements to have more safety built into the system," said director Bob Spiers.

"Water rates will definitely be impacted.  You will see a doubling of rates in eight to 10 years as they are calculated now."

The plan does include pursuing senior government grants to try and offset the cost.

"I hope the province and the feds will come in with their one-third, one-third (funding) as they have in other places, said Spiers.

The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee has recommended the master water plan (26 pages of VERY interesting reading) to the Regional District of North Okanagan board, which will consider approval June 26.  The document must also be ratified by the Interior Health Authority."

"Maybe it's ESP reporting," offers Kia. 

Whoever wrote the story, the fact remains that $111 million is going to be borrowed and spent on the water system upgrades.  Residents will have a say, but those results mean nothing, as the Interior Health Authority is demanding filtration of domestic water.  And since the recently constructed Duteau Creek Water Treatment plant (it's so new, they're still calling it NEW) today serves domestic and irrigation customers--without separated (twinned) lines--filtration will occur there as well as the Mission Hill Water Treatment plant.  

Other options were considered by the same consultants (who recommended building the Duteau Creek Water Treatment plant), and the directors (politicians).

Several options would've resulted in water consultants and politicians being ridden out of town on a rail -- right after being tarred and feathered. 
You can add the Interior Health Authority to that rail trip, as they bring no money to the table regardless of which option is followed.

Why?  Because it would be proof that the Duteau Creek Water Treatment plant should never have been built.  Raw water should serve irrigation customers in Lavington.  Chlorinated and filtered water should serve domestic customers, the majority of whom live West of Coldstream/Lavington.

That would leave the Mission Hill Water treatment plant for domestic filtration, with the bulk of twinned lines occurring off the single-piped lines at West Coldstream.  The relatively (in volume comparison to irrigation usage) small number of domestic customers in Lavington?  Probably cheaper to buy 'em all a reverse osmosis unit!  Maybe a combination of filtration and sand filters? 

Whatever happens, three things are certain:

• Residents will pay, pay, pay, pay.  And pay!

So what're the second and third things?

• We miss Brian Harvey, former manager of the Vernon Irrigation District more than ever!  His common sense and logic would've prevented (indeed, eliminated) all the wasted money so far.

• We'll wish Al Horning of the Black Mountain Irrigation District in Kelowna had resided in Vernon.  He was instrumental in many aspects of their state-of-the-art system.  He not only got grants from government, he and his group enlarged their water source and kept rates half what ours are today.  Today their water system even produces electricity for the hydro grid!  

No such luck here.

"No such people here," muses Kia, "but we do have invisible reporters."

Walt and Cicero

Walt Lesyk, a Vernon resident for 20 years, finally has his say in this Letter to the Editor June 14th, 2013:

"GAS TAX:
City council proposes a gas tax.  Are they kidding me?  That's the most stupid idea I have heard.

This letter is long overdue.  I have been gritting my teeth for some time over the lack of any management out of this current mayor and councillors.

Actually this has been true for several councils in the past years.

I would like to be proud of the town that I chose for my home some 20 years ago, but I find it difficult to do.  This town is dying, mainly because we have no one to properly lead and develop the economy for the well being of this place.

Observe the number of residents leaving town, businesses moving to other towns, the number of empty store and businesses.  Last person out, turn out the lights.

Has anyone noticed that we no longer have any provincial offices here?

They have all been moved to Kelowna.  And that without a peep or whimper from our so-called leaders.  If a town does not grow, it dies.

Instead of encouraging core development, our councils waste our money on social items such as libraries, bicycle paths, esthetic street rebuilding, museums, art galleries, etc.

These type of buildings are ideal but intelligent leaders would reserve them for better economic times.

Instead of gas taxes, wouldn't it be more prudent to use the money wasted on borrowing interest to build that stupid sports track that no-one will use?  Who is going to drive three miles out of town to use it?

I guess this is what we get for electing non-development politicians in city hall for the past many years.  Decline.

Mr. Mayor and councillors, you are doing a poor job of leading this little town. "

Walt Lesyk

So...to what does the title reference "Cicero" refer?

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed, lest Rome will become bankrupt.  People must again learn to work instead of living on public assistance".                                                                                                Cicero, 55 BC

Stop the Spending

The letter was headed -- Stop the Roundabout.

It's telling the District of Coldstream to stop the spending.

A letter to the editor of the Morning Star, published June 9, 2013, was to the point:

"Coldstream council, are you listening?  Just in case you are for once, stop wasting my money.

Leave the Kidston Road/Kalamalka Road intersection the way it is.

Why is Coldstream always willing to bend over for just a select few?  Speed bumps on West Kal and Postill for example.  What about some speed bumps for Kalamalka Road or how about Highway 6?  Lots of people are speeding on those roads.

Just joking.  Please don't apply for another grant.

Is it really necessary to interrupt traffic 24 hours a day for everyone just to avoid a five-minute wait during school and sports traffic?

There isn't anywhere left to develop in the Kidston area so future traffic flow will not be increasing.

People are free to take Kalavista Drive or Postill Drive (even with speed bumps I believe they are still open to the less fortunate).

There is no problem with the Kidston/Kal intersection.  Stop creating one.  Stop wasting my money."

Terry Nerling

"Terry Nerling took the words right out of residents' mouths," offers Kia, "we've been 'bending over' for the municipality for years with this bunch."

Thanks for making your point, Terry.
Or should we say, our point.