Politicians' Continuing Myopia

Faced with "a future course of action (being) in limbo" with the November defeat of the $70 million borrowing referendum, GVAC director Mike Macnabb was today quoted in The Morning Star's story "No direction yet for water plan" as saying "We have to talk to the Interior Health Authority...and the provincial government".

Not their only mistake...
...but probably the first one of 2015.

MLA Eric Foster was already quoted as saying residents shouldn't rely on the provincial government to step in with money for health authority-mandated water upgrades. Nothing new there. 

And the health authority was recently quoted as saying they might not impose an Order to do the work.
Has anybody (other than Councillor Kiss) figured out that the health authority works for us?
Yes, they are to take direction from residents!
We said "no" and the health authority should back off...immediately.

So where does that leave the engineering department's plans to upgrade the water system so that not only chlorinated water is delivered as irrigation for farms and domestic use at residences, filtered water would now be delivered as irrigation for farms and domestic use of residences. 
Yes, hay and corn fields would soon be watered with BOTH chlorinated AND filtered water.

Dumbest idea ever.
And the public will have none of it!
Got it, politicians?

Then in another story in the same issue, there's a big hue and cry about how to improve safety at two admittedly dangerous intersections...Highway 97 at Birnie Road (the garbage dump turnoff south of the city) https://www.google.ca/maps/@50.2156049,-119.304136,519m/data=!3m1!1e3  , and Highway 97 at Stickle Road https://www.google.ca/maps/@50.2975703,-119.2548365,259m/data=!3m1!1e3

Sure, safety is a problem at both.

But politicians are blathering about confidential meetings with the Ministry of Transportation and the Regional District.  Probably so that they can all wring their hands and wonder what to do.  They'll probably have to strike another committee of stakeholders!

Why the hell--if safety is so important (and it is)--don't any of those people have the idea to fix it immediately.

How?  Easy peasy.

Especially Stickle Road (the Squires Pub and Art Knapp Nursery turnoff).
Construct barriers so that Stickle Road (both east and west) can only TURN RIGHT onto Hwy. 97.

No left turns permitted.

See?
Easy peasy.

That solution isn't quite as effective at Birnie road, but it is possible as an interim measure to ensure safety.
While the bureaucrats and ineffective politicians continue meeting to hash over their non-ideas.

Wikipedia defines myopia as "trying to see like a mole".


"...Nothing new in the North Okanagan in the New Year," admits Kia, pondering the ineffectiveness of both bureaucrats and politicians.

Accurately portrayed.
Move over bureaucrats to allow for politicians' likenesses.

Help Wanted:  Someone...anyone...with the cojones to tell engineers, consultants AND politicians what residents will and won't accept.

Prerequisite:  Eyes and Balls.