An Open Letter to Terry Mooney

I don't know how to reach Terry Mooney, so hopefully someone will forward the blog link to him.

"Kelowna built the UV treatment plants in 2006-2007 for

about $7 million and have no trouble at all." 

Coldstream Councillor Gyula Kiss

First, Terry, I want to thank you and your group for choosing to form a residents' committee to oppose what Greater Vernon Water's bureaucrats are doing and have done.  As no doubt Peter Moore and Bruce Shepherd--from the failed amalgamation push in the North Okanagan--would tell you, it's a thankless job, and one fraught with odds for failure.

"...look at the nearly $200 million (yes 200 million dollars!) proposal...(what should be, but is not...) the best solution for the long term viability of the water system."

Coldstream Councillor Gyula Kiss

While residents are thrilled the $70 million referendum failed in November, the fact that its question didn't include a "cause and effect" statement has now allowed GVW's bureaucrats to move along as though nothing had occurred.  There was no statement on the referendum on what would occur if the referendum failed, i.e. a peer review, for instance. 

The simple solution?  "Duteau no treatment, all for irrigation.  Domestic all treated and from the

 Kalamalka/Okanagan Lake sources."

Coldstream Councillor Gyula Kiss

Bureaucrats continue to ride the donkey that is the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee.  And that donkey stupidly goes along with most everything demanded of it.  A simple majority rules, and yes, the majority of elected representatives have simple views that show a complete lack of understanding.

The critical question to ask is: 

 what does Kelowna do in an emergency

 with only one water source -- Okanagan Lake?

The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee is simple indeed.  There are no thoughtful questions, none of substance, no discussions of consequence, no demands of a peer review, no proper supervision of bureaucrats!  Nothing.  GVW bureaucrats have appointed elected director Macnabb to head one of their committees.  So what you say?  Director Macnabb lives in the BX area, and he's on a well.  So none of his "vote decisions" affect him!  And GVW bureaucrats know that! 

Proof is what has occurred with the private fire hydrant two-year long issue (and about 10 other links on this blog!).

Proof also is Greater Vernon Water's abject rejection of the simply smart recommended process and solution proposed all along by Coldstream councillor Gyula Kiss:

"To me the issue is simple:  Duteau no treatment, all for irrigation.  Domestic all treated and from the Kalamalka/Okanagan Lake sources.  When we look at the nearly $200 million (yes 200 million dollars!) proposal, the cost is secondary, the important issue is the best solution for the long term viability of the water system.  The attached table sows the rate changes over the years.  The most alarming change is in the base rates which have nothing to do with consumption."   

Bureaucrats and the "simple majority" of Greater Vernon Advisory Committee (elected) officials aren't the least bit concerned the referendum failed!  

Councillor Kiss' position:  "The presentation by the staff went as if there was no referendum and we are following the same plan as before."   When Councillor Kiss objected, he was told by Juliette Cunningham, chair of the committee that he "should not be negative"!  So much for Cunningham acting on behalf of her water-using (and angry) residents!  Should we be surprised?  Nope...she did the same thing with the private fire hydrant issue, first stating the annual tax "appears exorbitant", and then doing absolutely nothing to supervise bureaucrats' mishandling of the issue, let alone saying a firm "NO" to bureaucrats!

Kiss continues:  "I maintain that the system for agriculture should return to agriculture and all allocations should be honoured.  Domestic supply should be coming from Kalamalka and Okanagan Lakes.  It is that simple.  Had we started out from those principles we would have an unaltered VID system working without any money (having been) spent on it and we would be using Okanagan Lake without filtration like Kelowna is doing.  Kelowna built the UV treatment plants in 2006-2007 for about $7 million and have no trouble at all (with either high turbidity or the Interior Health Authority, who are demanding that GVW filter Duteau Creek water).  You can find Kelowna's turbidity reading for today (and every day) here.  Obviously, there is no need for filtration at those low turbidity readings. 

And what of GVW bureaucrats' claims that their dual source system (Kal and Duteau) for water customers?  Some years ago they spouted that was important so they could change / reverse water in cases of emergency.  

The critical question to ask is:  what does Kelowna do in an emergency with only one water source -- Okanagan Lake!

"Kelowna had the balls to say no to ridiculous ideas from their bureaucrats," suggests Kia, "why doesn't that occur here?"

And obviously Kelowna has more intelligent people at their Interior Health office.

What's really sad is the pathetic silence from the Okanagan Basin Water Board, whose head Anna Warwick-Sears, who holds a Ph.D, actually should get involved in this (instead of all the other "fluff" they stick their noses into, including a sojourn into dealing with the Okanagan Indian Band which was never part of their mandate!)  So much for the OBWB's attempts at "tenacious involvement".

Councillor Kiss deserves our unmitigated support and thanks.

And now Terry Mooney and his committee of concerned citizens deserve that as well.

Good luck, Terry Mooney et al.

...and thank you and Gyula Kiss!