More Letters to Editor

What's the saying?  If everybody who felt the same on a given topic (as authors of letters to the editor) actually wrote a letter to their community publication's editor, their mail room would be inundated.

"The basic ideal belief in public sphere theory is that the government's laws and policies should be steered by the public sphere, and that the only legitimate governments are those that listen to the public sphere.

  "Democratic governance rests on the capacity of

and opportunity for citizens to engage in enlightened debate".

from Wikipedia here.

Democratic governance indeed!

Fiscal water woes continue to drip, by Jim Bodkin:

"We've been water boarded.  Don't believe me?  Just check your recently mailed quarterly utilities invoice for Oct. 1, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2015.

Amnesty International says water boarding is torture.  So does the United States Supreme Court.  That's why, when the CIA wants to water board prisoners, it keeps them outside America in Guantanamo Bay.  But that's physical water boarding:  ours is fiscal and the torture is to our wallets.

Greater Vernon Water utility has refined their local technique of water boarding (with the rubber stamping connivance of RDNO political appointees) into an esoteric art form that gouges the pocketbooks of each and every one of us.

In 2010, we were charged a base fee of $50.17 per quarter that included up to 10 cubic metres of water at no additional charge.  Our base fee then was in the upper quartile of normal municipal practice and the amount of water included as in the lower quartile.  A bit pricey for what we got but still not totally out-of-whack with what other cities were doing.

Our latest base fee has jumped to $101.80 per quarter, it does not include a single drop of water and that is for a commodity that is absolutely essential for life.  That's $407.20 to Greater Vernon Water per annum for Sweet Fanny Adams.  That is the fiscal water boarding you and I are being subjected to.  It makes Greater Vernon Water unique.  It puts us completely off the charts.  It is unlikely that any other city in Canada charges so much for so little.  And, have you heard?  It isn't going to stop ... our water utility has just asked for another two per cent raise.

Speak up now or forever hold your peace.  Shake off your voter complacency and become outspoken.  Greater Vernon Water and their political enablers are counting on your lack of participation to let them serve their wants rather than our needs.

Are you going to continue letting them soak you for millions to treat water to drinking quality standards then spray it on such low value crops as hay and silage corn?  Are you going to stay mute when you see overhead crop irrigation occurring on windy or hot sunny days when most of it goes to waste?

Well, if you do not speak up my voice will just be lost in the wilderness as was that of Coldstream councillor Gyula Kiss.  

Seems that with regard to water our plutocratic and politico mantra is to either ignore or give the squeaky wheel the boot.

That's led us to being water boarded and why it is necessary for you and me to take action if we want it to stop.  Defeating the water referendum was not sufficient.

We need to put a stop to the indecisive dithering and get a solution.

Juliette Cunningham and Jim Garlick preside over what happens to water.  Make sure they hear your voice."  Jim Bodkin

And another letter:

Simple solution?  by Brock Penner, from the same issue: 

"Here is my 'simple' solution for fixing the water problem in Vernon.

Build a water treatment facility straight up from Kal Lake on a section of the existing forest research property across from Okanagan College. 

Pump the water out of Kal Lake at the existing pump house, run it up the hill, treat it and pump it out from there.  It's on top of a hill so the gravity distribution shouldn't be a problem.

It's close to town and not way up on a mountain way out of town.  It's accessing water from Kal Lake so we wouldn't have to share the water rights with other Okanagan communities.

The lake is very deep so the pipe can be run deep to avoid the zebra mussels that are apparently on their way.

We live on two massive lakes (one that an probably be seen from space) and we seem to think that building holding ponds and treating the water way up on a mountain somewhere is a good idea.  A 100 years ago this was a necessary to utilize gravity to distribute the water but surely we can move this closer to town in this modern world of pumps and electricity.

This is just my simple idea.  I'm sure I'm wrong and the good letter writers of Vernon will let me know but it seems sensible to me.

Let's take a step back and look at the situation.  KISS keep it simple..."  Brock Penner

And another from last Sunday's issue:

"Yesterday, a Penticton friend and I compared total 2015 residential water costs.

Similar consumption, same number of occupants.

Mine was 187 per cent higher.

That’s quite the growth management strategy, elected officials!"

"We should build a water pipeline and buy water from any one of the numerous more reasonably-priced communities that surround Greater Vernon," says Kia.

We may have to, Kia, as it appears we don't have a legitimate government.

You're Bang On, Bodkin

Jim Bodkin's letter to the editor on August 21st, entitled Priorites Need Adjusting, hit the nail squarely.

But we'll begin with his clincher:

"It doesn't matter if they are a homeowner or not, it will just be reflected in their rent cheque in one way or another."

Jim Bodkin

"I am writing to urge fellow citizens to contact Vernon's Mayor Akbal Mund and council to re-focus and and take concrete steps to make Vernon a better place to live for the most needy among us.

Vernon's 2014 annual report illustrates how at sea this regime is.

It says 'All the following goals are equally important to council'.  It then goes on to list 51 goals.  The general tenor of the report is everything is rosy and all is well.

With respect, having 51 equally important goals is not something I find believable.  It boggles my mind that Mayor Mund signed off on such a preposterous statement. 

 "...who are obviously struggling to make ends meet,

are forced with paying more than $400 a year

 for no water at all and then are charged

for the actual water they use."

How can everything be well when not so long ago The Morning Star reported that the Salvation Army had to make drastic cutbacks that included letting such a prominent citizen as David McBain go in order to keep its core mandate of helping the needy functioning at a much reduced level.  

More recently, it was reported that the Upper Room Mission has far more people showing up and that their clientele now includes many more seniors and families with young children having difficulty feeding themselves.

"That is a major disadvantage of being poor

and living in Vernon."

Here's one concrete suggestion for Mayor Mund and Vernon council to chew on.

In Vernon these people, who are obviously struggling to make ends meet, are forced with paying more than $400 a year for no water at all and then are charged for the actual water they use.

It doesn't matter if they are a homeowner or not, it will just be reflected in their rent cheque in one way or another.

That $400 represents most of a monthly Old Age Security cheque or most of a monthly rent cheque.

That is a major disadvantage of being poor and living in Vernon.

No one did that maliciously, it just happened.  It happened because sufficient care and attention was not paid to the consequences of not doing what other cities do to shelter their most needy from excessive price gouging of a commodity as essential as water.  They better balance their water funding needs.  Vernon does not.

That's what happens when you have 51 goals all of which 'are equally important to council.'

So, Mayor Mund and Vernon council here is a specific that needs to be addressed and corrective action taken.

It needs to be acted upon and rectified as soon as possible.  Dithering is not acceptable.

Poor people in Vernon are, quite literally, having their pockets picked of money that they need for food and lodging.

Fellow citizens, please do your best to get Mayor Mund and Vernon council to act on this.  Oh, it applies to Coldstream and to those parts of Areas B and C on piped water too."

                Jim Bodkin                                    

Water Issues Dominate Newspaper

...as they should, considering the topic is THE most talked about among residents of the North Okanagan.

The Morning Star published the following today:

"Water Committee Membership Determined (Rolke):

A previous role in Greater Vernon's failed water process won't stop individuals from taking a leadership role in the future.

The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee voted Thursday not to rule anyone out for membership on the master water plan stakeholder advisory committee.

'Who's on it shold be based on what they bring to the table,' said director Bob Fleming.

It had been recommended that participants in the advisory committee not have prevoius involvement in the master water plan process, which led to an unsuccessful $70 million referendum last fall.

'Anyone involved before from this (GVAC) committee on the previous technical advisory group would be disqualified,' said director Bob Spiers.

Staff insists that it wasn't trying to restrict who takes part in the advisory committee.

'The intent was to say we're trying to provide as fresh a look as possible,' said David Sewell, Regional District of North Okanagan chief administrative officer.

'We don't want to be burdened potentially with the biases associated with the development of previous plans.'

The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce has asked for a seat at the stakeholders' table.

'We request that the regional district reflect on ways in which the business and investment community can be engaged in any discussion as you move forward,' said Jaron Chasca, chamber president, in a letter.

'The establishment of a multi-stakeholder steering committee such as was done with the development of the regional cultural plan may be of value in this situation.'

Juliette Cunningham, GVAC chairperson, says the chamber's request will be considered.

'They have a good communications network and getting feedback from their members,' she said.

GVAC will begin advertyising for potential stakeholders committee members soon.

'We will have to see how much interest there is.  We want buy-in from taxpayers,' said Cunningham.

'We want them to understand why we need a master water plan.'

"...Didn't want to be burdened with biases?" intones Kia, adding "then install an independent consultant in place of staff engineers at the table, opposite SAC members." 

"Rules May Restrict Funds (Rolke):

A politician forecasts tighter water restrictions will leave the utility's budget high and dry.

The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee has initiated stage one water restrictions in the hope of decreasing consumption during the hot weather.  (BLOG NOTE:  No public record exists of GVAC having met mere days before their regularly scheduled July 9th meeting when the stage one water restrictions were announced in the newspaper, so the public believes bureaucrats enacted the restriction without GVAC directors' approval.)

'I agree with conservation but we will lose revenue for the utility,' said director Bob Spiers, adding that a 10 per cent reduction in residential consumption could reduce revenue by $158,000 in Vernon in the third quarter.

Staff insists stage one restrictions are needed because of the ongoing dry conditions. 

'We are doing heightened awareness and targeting water waste,' said Zee Marcolin, utility manager.  'We want people to know what they should be doing.  There's a lot of watering of roadways.'

Marcolin added that larger agricultural customers are also being contacted about conservation.

'We want to hit this hard so we can stay away from stage two.'
  
( BLOG NOTE:  Want to see just how much more you'll pay WHEN you reduce your domestic water consumption by 10 per cent?  Click on this link, and see Table 1 and Table 2.  Created by Gyula Kiss, GVAC member. Even more revenue will be lost than the tables indicate...Hillview Golf Course has drilled a well and constructed a reservoir...their invoice for 2014 was projected to increase to $43,000 from $33,000). 

"The water authority isn't telling people of that effect, are they?" says Kia.

 
"Watersheds draw scrutiny (Rolke):

Mudboggers roaring around watersheds have local communities calling for action.

The Okanagan Basin Water Board discussed the issue of source protection Tuesday and specifically recreational activities that threaten water quality and critical infrastructure, such as dams.

'I don't know how we get around the recreational aspect and desecration?' said director James Baker.

Much of the discussion revolved around the Greater Vernon Water Utility's experience with people entering the Duteau Creek watershed.

'They love to get out in their ATVs and four-by-fours,' said Renee Clark, GVWU water quality manager.

'The reservoirs get drawn down in the summer and it looks like a great place to go and play.'

Another concern is what all-terrain vehicles do to the integrity of dams holding back reservoirs.

'If they breach, the inundation area is Lumby and there would be property damage.  Who would be liable for that?  We would' said Clark, adding that the water utility owns the dam and is responsible for safety.

'We have tried to fence the dams but it's a big area and new routes are found.'

There have also been problems with other infrastructure being damaged and warning signs being shot and utility staff must clean up the trash and human waste left behind (there are no outhouses at the reservoirs).

Clark says the situation at Duteau Creek is experienced in watersheds throughout the Okanagan and something must be done.

'Let's find some way to do this from a political and policy perspective' she said.

'If we can protect the source, treatment is a lot less.'

Presently, a license of occupation through the provincial government doesn't allow for exclusive use of a watershed by a utility.

Among the possible options are leasing the land to prevent recreational activities or establishing recreational campsites at reservoirs so there are(sic...would be) some guidelines in place.

Clark isn't convinced that formal campsites will work given summer conditions at reservoirs.

'The lakes are drawn down in August so they're not a place people will hang out at (to camp) but people will still ATV,' she said.

Doug Findlater, OBWB chairperson, points out that there was an issue with ATVs in the Bear Creek watershed, off of Westside Road, and various agencies came together to create formal trains and enforcement.

'They took control of it and allowed people in but under controlled conditions,' he said."

"Public abuse of the area has been going on for decades, and GVW is only yabbering about it now?" asks Kia, adding, "heaven forbid they'd actually do something effective like contacting the provincial government and implement something...anything to improve the situation.  Nope...they're too busy controlling the rest of us to focus on watershed abuse!"

And two letters to the editor:

"Real Change Needed in Water Plan:
I suppose it's encouraging to learn from your article of June 14 that yet another water review is on tap.  Personally, I would have preferred some decisions.  My second choice would have been to take a blank piece of paper and have an independent consultant start afresh.

Instead I see I will get my least druthers approach, a finagling rehash of what we voters have rejected by a two to one margin or, to be precise, by 7918 nays to 3999 yeas.  I thought the message thus sent to the water gurus and politicos was quite clear; people want a no frills water system that is safe and reliable and does not cost twice as much as ratepayers pay in Kelowna and Penticton.

This is not rocket science.

Every community needs water and has a water utility to provide it for them at reasonable cost.  Sometimes glitches occur such as Walkerton.  After all to err is human.

Unfortunately, the North Okanagan has a murky water syndrome.

Greater Vernon takes water from far away ponds fed by another watershed that reaches us via creeks flowing through cow pastures, dog parks, farm fields and other assorted odds and sods that do not add to its clarity then spends mega bucks to make it potable before selling most of it at a fraction of what domestic users are soaked to grow food for cows.  Brilliant.

One good thing about exorbitant water costs is how good that is for conservation.

Domestic ratepayers in Greater Vernon have cut back their water usage by a third to a half over the past five years depending upon the time period/data selection used; from 350 cubic meters to maybe as low as 175, certainly less than 250.

The water utility raised rates, ratepayers then used less water.  That meant the water utility was not able to cover its costs.  Obvious answer:  reduce costs.  Nope.

The water utility opted to raise base fees instead.  Today, most domestic ratepayers in Greater Vernon pay more in base fees than they do for the actual metered water they use.  Mind boggling, beyond belief you say, check your water bill, then weep.

The people that brought us this are now going to do an in-house review of their past recommendations and everything is going to be hunky-dory.

Yeah, right.  Juliette Cunningham presides over this charade, she chairs the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee.  Give her a dingle or an e-mail.

Make your views known and do it now.  By next year, more money will have gone down the Greater Vernon Water Utility drain as they keep plugging away doing the same old, same old.

Councillors Spiers of Vernon and Kiss of Coldstream are trying to rectify this water madness but they need your help.

Two votes are not enough to get real change for real betterment.  Do your part and twist some political arms."
                                       Jim Bodkin

Source:  CCMWP Terry Mooney

and another:

"Greater Vernon Water:

It doesn't take an MBA to see stakeholder advisory committee (SAC) is entering a fixed horse race assuring that only a rehashing of Greater Vernon Water projects will be on the table -- the projects that the public refused to fund during the referendum.

The public is outraged area water rates are almost three times the rate of Kelowna users.

Under the bureaucrat-penned terms of reference SAC will review GVW's hastily-scribed list of assumptions.

This means the public at large will not be allowed to submit letters to the SAC group.

How's that for betraying the public which was instrumental in demanding change.

The grassroots group Citizens for Changes to the Master Water Plan, has touched the public pulse with its clearly-understood May presentation at the Schubert Centre.

The public wants Okanagan Lake as a water source, as Kelowna has, with no demand by IHA for filtration, because Okanagan Lake is a deep repository of glacial gravels.

In all of these years GVW bureaucrats haven't got around to protecting the Duteau slough (an apt public description), complaining about vandalism and mud-boggers.

Why hasn't IHA protected the Duteau source?  Water reservoirs on the Lower Mainland are closed to the public and mostly fenced. 

We are misguided if we believe politicians are in charge."
                                           Barb Mitchell

"Angry because Tower Ranch in Kelowna--at more than 200 acres--pays only slightly more than double what Highlands Golf--at 15 acres here--pays annually," says Kia.

"And angry because the OUC community garden--at less than 2 (yes, two) acres--used almost twice as much water as Highlands Golf," adds Kia.

People are watching to see how the leadership thingy goes...