GVAC Directors Disappoint

Communication failure.
Deferring to bureaucrats.
GVAC directors are failing the public.

Imagine my surprise when--as part of my invoice from the District of Coldstream--last quarter 2014 water invoices arrived for my three water meters (residence, clubhouse and irrigation) and a new charge appeared on my Irrigation invoice:  $560.00 Unmetered Fire Main 150mm.

So what, you say?
Well, a refresher on the fire hydrant history is probably needed.

The last I heard, after I made a personal presentation to the Regional District of North Okanagan's Greater Vernon Advisory Committee back in September or early October, was GVAC chair Juliette Cunningham's comment about the "exorbitant" rate, and that the issue would be reviewed.

How idiotic of me to presume the exorbitant rate would be reviewed (and I would be advised of the outcome of the "exorbitant" rate) at the same time 2015 water rates were being considered by the Board!

Yes, the hydrant was a Development Permit requirement during the Highlands Golf planning stage.  Nobody ever said that there'd be an annual tax on the bloody thing.
And what for?
It's never been serviced by the RDNO; hell, they never so much as looked at it after they approved its installation as part of the DP approval.


So...it was:
"moved and seconded by Director Sawatzky and Alternate Director Garlick that it be recommended to the Board of Directors, staff be directed to bring forward all relevant information regarding private fire hydrant fees and to review what is done in other jurisdictions with recommendations and options for the committee to the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee" page 5 of 82 here.


Where's the "recommendations and options for the committee"?
Where are the minutes of GVAC's discussion on what they decided?
Bureaucrats likely were blunt in their suggestion:  "yes we screwed up, but now we have previously un-invoiced private hydrant owners to invoice...thanks to this applicant for 'procedural fairness'."

Look at it this way:
Also included in the DP was a Landscaping requirement, duly completed, along Highlands' roadfront.

"Expect an invoice for an annual tax on EVERY TREE/SHRUB that you planted," scoffs Kia.

The fact remains GVAC let me down.
This isn't the "procedural fairness" I was (rightly) requesting.

So did the District of Coldstream for not providing a letter stating under what authority the RDNO has now transferred the unmetered fire main invoice for $560.00 to the District.  To be fair, they probably don't have a clue.  They just do what the Regional District bureaucrats tell them to do.

GVAC communication failure?

There's still no justification of why the annual tax goes up by ~$100 each and every year.
And where is the discussion among Advisory Committee members?

"An invoice is how elected officials and bureaucrats communicate," offers Kia.