Amalgamation Fear-Mongering Begins

Let the turf war games begin.

A benign start that--in the weeks to come--will become more heated and evidence the very existence of North Okanagan "fiefdoms" that continue to exist despite politicians' assurances that former squabbles over power and territory have ended.

They're unaware that area politicians themselves, several years ago, proved the benefit of amalgamation by forming the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee. 
They say they've streamlined parks and water, culture and recreation.

Why stop there?
Streamline politicians.
Streamline bureaucracy.
Just as KPMG suggested in their Core Services Review.


Confusion exists, even in the media.  Yesterday's Morning Star story:  "Speaking from experience as an Area A landowner who has endured increased taxes but not noticeable increase in services..." (Coldstream councillors respond to petition, September 11, 2013). 

Area A?
Huh?

The Regional District's website states:  "The Regional District functions as a partnership of the six municipalities (Armstrong, Coldstream, Enderby, Lumby, Spallumcheen, and Vernon) and the five electoral areas (B – BX/Swan Lake, C – BX/Silver Star, D – Rural Lumby, E-Cherryville, and F- Rural Enderby) within its boundaries."  No mention of an Area "A".


Population for each area is given here:

The map of community boundaries, with no reference to an "A".

All summer long, people have complained about the price of water.  Indeed, neighbouring properties are often misinformed of where their water originates!  Click here, enter your address, and learn your domestic and irrigation water source.

Back to the advent of fear-mongering, mostly focusing on tax increases...sprinkled with Kia's admonishments.

In the same issue of The Morning Star, Coldstream mayor Jim Garlick stated "I think what we have is good and once you get educated you understand it."  "The word 'informed' would be a little less condescending," says Kia, adding "so is he doing his job if he wants us to educate ourselves?"

Coldstream Councillor Maria Besso:  "It has never been in the interest of Coldstream taxpayers to amalgamate."  "The Coldstream municipal hall wouldn't have been built," offers Kia, "that alone would've saved Coldstream taxpayers millions of dollars in debt and interest."  The fire halls in Coldstream and Lavington were a good idea though, because they actually serve residents.  What does a municipal hall do, full of bureaucrats, except create paperwork and stress like Coldstream's not-dead RU10 and RU30 rezoning of lands on which people are living?

Coldstream Councillor Richard Enns:   "Every Coldstream resident I've talked to is opposed to it.  I think people feel that their local government is a good one and it's very sensitive."  "He's talked to a narrow group of like-minded narrow-thinkers,"  suggests Kia.

Coldstream Councillor Gyula Kiss, apparently a long-time opponent to amalgamation:  "...Residents will not be happy about having taxes increased, a limited access council and services altered, and possible cuts.  The people that live here are quite happy with the service we provide."  "I'm all for a limited access council," offers Kia.  "and only one Mayor and a couple of councillors attending the annual UBCM meetings."

Coldstream Councillor Doug Dirk says much of the decisions for a local government to spend money came from taxpayers.  "No, that's not true," reminds Kia.  "It was the wording of the referendum (which wouldn't have been held at all without a council) that asked not whether we wanted to build a new municipal hall, but whether we wanted to borrow the money for it."  Council was going to build the new municipal hall come hell or high water!
They gave Coldstream taxpayers NO opportunity to say NO, DON'T BUILD IT.

Coincidentally, a majority of folks don't want a Coldstream Town Centre either.
Especially when one-quarter of Vernon's commercial spaces are either for rent, for lease or for sale. 

But it's the response--or lack of one--from Pat Cochrane that speaks volumes.  A former councillor in Vernon who now serves as councillor in Coldstream, when asked about amalgamation "declined to comment" on the subject.

The petition for the Greater Vernon Governance Society is here:

And a suggestion to the Morning Star...when printing the petition ballot...please use a WHITE background (versus BLACK).  People are looking for a white-ink pen!

And a reminder to Eric Foster, MLA Vernon Monashee, that it might best for his "career interest" to NOT be so fervently against amalgamation this time around.