Mayors and Councils are Puppets of the UBCM

My, my, how things have changed in communities all over B.C., thanks to the powerful Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM), whose umbrella of assistance and protection to bureaucrats now touches us all.

More on that later.

Thankfully when I was building Highlands Golf Course 10 years ago, then-Mayor Postill and Council of Coldstream were still “of the mind” to help a resident realize her goals.  Councils of the day encouraged staff—the bureaucrats—to be inclusive in development guidelines; in other words, to allow the development to occur if all development permit specs had been achieved.  I remain grateful for that, despite the near-requisite two years of red tape.  All the requirements of the day were met.

But I wouldn’t even apply for a development permit today.

Not with Coldstream’s present Mayor and Council, referring to Mayor Garlick’s quote in a recent Morning Star (in reply to Judy Paterson's appearance at Council), “you still don’t need a permit to paint.”  Really?  Really?  Implying that everything else does need a permit?  And for residents to be considered Developers is ludicrous.

Rather than being fiscally prudent, Coldstream’s Mayor and Council have little, if any, business experience and it shows.  They—and other communities’ officials—have become the bureaucratic ideal:  puppets of the UBCM.  Staff increases—in both quantity and dollars of remuneration—at both Vernon and Coldstream have left residents shaking their heads...tell us why a community like Coldstream—with ~78% of its land in the ALR and with only 10,000 residents—needs a Chartered Accountant.  Or an Executive Research Secretary.  And on and on.  By the way, the remuneration “standards” are set by, you guessed it, the UBCM.

So why do we need Mayors and Councils?

Why indeed!

Especially since Mayors and Councillors are today merely signatories to committee and bureaucratic recommendations.                                                              

If every bylaw text originates with the UBCM—and most texts do start there—then what purpose do municipal elections achieve?  Especially when additional committees—all unelected by taxpayers—make recommendations to Council for adoption:  the Technical Advisory Committee, Environmental Committee, Advisory Planning Committee, now also a Kal Neighbourhood Committee, etc. etc.  Add to that the growing list of “provincial” committees such as the Okanagan Basin Water Board and the Sterile Insect Management Board, etc., and there are literally tens of people making recommendations to Mayor and Council, all of whom are unelected by us.  Most of us don’t even know who these people are.

And that’s still not all.  The North Okanagan Regional District, on whose boards a councillor from each community sits, rarely agree on “Greater Vernon” issues, whether it be parks or water.  The RDNO has its own committees.  There are committees for growth management, bicycle paths and recycling and—one of my personal favourites—culture.  Culture?  Isn’t that the job of grandparents?  Or maybe a bureaucrat can do it better (sigh). 

One tiny example is the North Okanagan Regional District’s burning regulations—they allow burning for one month—whereas Coldstream allows a two-week burning window (spring and fall).  Anybody noticed that smoke doesn’t obey a vertical boundary (fenceline) between two jurisdictions?

But what could we have expected from the UBCM—whose power became entrenched during the NDP’s two terms of terror?  It seems that no-one is tugging on the reins of the UBCM’s power, even after the North Okanagan’s governance review call by sometime-minister Ida Chong a few years ago.  After 6 months of submissions and thoughtfully-worded suggestions, she chose the status quo.  And kept her job, I might add, after her boondoggle.  What a waste of time!

So what’s the solution?

Well let’s try it the unelected and bureaucratic way.

But with one proviso.

Governance by committee of unelected and appointed (by whom we’re not sure) people.  No mayors, no councilors except the “amalgamator” cities.  Put the responsibility squarely in the lap of the bureaucrats that are creating this socialist bureaucracy. 

Taxpayers are fed up with paying for over-governance, as fully 50 per cent of what we pay goes to wages and benefits. 
                                                                                                                
Shut down Regional District(s), amalgamate Areas B & C (affectionately called F’n’G) into their physically adjacent community.  For example, Cherryville would automatically become part of Lumby, and Lumby could certainly use the tax money.  No more NORD director for Cherryville.  Spallumcheen?  Give them to Armstrong or Vernon.   Etc. etc.  And Coldstream?  While I hate to see the historical name disappear after having been a resident for 35 years, give Coldstream to Vernon! 

There would be so much money left over for multi-use paths and bicycle lanes and park land and park benches, and mechanics' shops that residents’ taxes would be manageable.  Infrastructure upgrades could be planned each year instead of hoping for on-our-knees grants from either the Federal or Provincial governments. 

The North Okanagan would then comprise Lumby City, Vernon City, and Armstrong City.  The boundaries of each would not resemble the current delineations (akin to an inebriated individual throwing into the air an open box of pushpins, and where they landed designated the present boundaries).

We’re fed up.  You should be too.

...oh, and a sincere thanks to Judy Paterson for showing me just how bizarre the situation has truly become in the ensuing years.  Shame on all government bodies for allowing the UBCM so much power, and for permitting bureaucrats and committees of unelected people to set policy.

"I thought UBCM stood for United B.C. Mutts," mused Kia.

Hegler Fuming over Duteau Creek water

Another good letter to the editor of The Morning Star, published August 17, 2011:

Who in their right mind would spend millions of dollars to treat water to Interior Health standards and then pump it on to the land as irrigation water?  John Hegler, Coldstream resident

Who indeed!
But we're already irrigating with chlorinated water, so why not spend another $20 million to filter water at the one year old Duteau Creek water treatment plant, and then we can irrigate with even better water.

But we digress from Hegler's letter...

"As a Kalamalka Lake water customer for more than 50 years, I find it deplorable that I was forced onto Duteau Creek water.  In my opinion, this plant is the most ill-conceived and opulent spending of taxpayers' money, as it is turning out to be nothing more than a white elephant.

We have invested $29 million in this plant, $6 to $8 million for operating costs, and now Interior Health wants us to spend another $20 million to upgrade to their standards.  In my opinion, the biggest mistake that was made was that there were no twin waterlines, one for residential and one for irrigation purposes.

Who in their right mind would spend millions of dollars to treat water to Interior Health standards and then pump it on to the land as irrigation water?

It's probably the most expensive water in Canada.  The high water rates we pay for this plant run by Greater Vernon Water and we, the taxpayers, are paying the top brass well in excess of $100,000 yearly salaries.  In return, we are receiving continual water advisories.  Weren't residents left with the impression the need for these advisories would virtually disappear if this plant was built?

Seventy-five per cent of all water use is for agricultural and commercial use, 25 per cent for residential use.  We put water restrictions on the 25 per cent usage, charge an arm and a leg, are told to boil our water for most of the summer and then they try to brainwash us that there is a shortage of water.  If that were true, wouldn't there be a moratorium on house construction?  How can you pat yourself on the back and give yourself a raise for doing such an outstanding job?

You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time."
John Hegler

"We've brow-beaten Greater Vernon Water continually," admits Kia, "and I think it's time we pounded on Interior Health's door to tell them they're taking their government jobs much too seriously.  We aren't Walkerton Ontario!"

You may just have a point there, Kia.

It's one government agency (Interior Health) telling another government agency (Greater Vernon Water) to meet their NEW standards.

Akin to the make-work projects for which government (at all levels) has become famous.

"With the fooled taxpayers in the middle, paying for it," adds Kia.

Abuse of Power by District of Coldstream? So, who's really surprised?

Judy Paterson's letter to the editor appeared in The Morning Star on Friday, August 12th.

...happy indeed to add Judy to the ever-growing number of Coldstream residents who are fed up with Mayor Garlick and his council's expansion of municipal powers....to some it's abuse, while others just call it "creeping socialism".  

"I am commenting on LM. Nuefeld's letter in The Morning Star.  The letter provided examples of road projects that seem to have 'missed the mark.'  As much as we all want pretty roads and some of us do want bicycle paths, the question that Nuefeld exposes is -- who are these projects serving and why are certain decisions made by municipalities with respect to bike paths and road works?

The point of this letter is to peel back some of the layers of how decisions are made at the municipal level that allow for what may look like (or are, in actuality) liberal use or abuse of power at the municipal level.

The Local Government Act and the Community Charter bestow broad powers on municipal governments.  There are a number of reasons for this, one of which is to grant municipalities responsibility (and cost) for the upgrading of roads and such within their jurisdictions.  This removes the cost burdens of road maintenance from the province.  Road maintenance at the local level is supposed to be paid for through our local taxes.  Lately, however, a new form of funding is on offer.  The provincial government responded to the economic downturn by allowing municipalities accesss to gas tax money for certain community-based projects.  Bicycle paths fall under this category.


Projects are generally spoken about in terms of benefits to the community.  Presumably these benefits outweigh the process of acquiring lands and gifts necessary to build them.  This is one of the reasons that bicycle paths are popping up in all sorts of places.  It is hard to say that a bicycle path doesn't contribute to better health, or a more sustainable community, and face it, who wouldn't want a "free" bicycle or multi-use path?  There is one problem:  the land necessary for these projects must be available to the municipality if they don't currently own it.  This is the missing piece of the "free" path or road upgrade.


Up until very recently, it is developers, large and/or profit-based businesses, that "gift" land or services.  If you are a business, the assumption is that you can afford to support the community to a greater or lesser extent.  Sometimes, the cost of doing business in the North Okanagan is steep, however.  Especially if your profits are being eroded by the economic downturn and you are struggling to keep afloat.  Is this a problem?  It could be for your business.


Many of us assume that the passing of bylaws is fair and consistent with people's values.  For the most part, they may be, but anyone who has gone to council and objected to a bylaw will soon find that this rarely has the effect of stopping or adjusting the bylaw.  The reason:  broad powers as it relates to bylaws -- those laws that allow local authorities to dictate how we all go about living our lives and how simple words such as building permit, development and gift get encoded into law.

Very recently, the notion of development (often a word that embodies a negative connotation) has taken on a more ominous meaning in the North Okanagan through the wording of bylaws.  The term development is now being applied broadly to any type of building permit.


That means for you, the taxpayer and property owners, your municipal government has the power to force you to give them land for whatever purpose they demand.  For example, in return for such requests as to upgrade your home, build a raised deck, or add a bathroom, you may be singled out for special "gifting" to your municipality.


This labeling (of) private individuals as developers in return for standard building permits puts every private home owner in this valley at risk for providing at least some form of funding for community projects such as road works and bicycle paths.  Cash, road works, or land -- it's all up for grabs.


We all love beautiful roads and community spaces.  But when individual citizens are expected to pay privately, we should all take note:  which neighbour really pays?"      J.Paterson

Need more proof that Judy Paterson is correct?
Read on...an example from the same issue of the newspaper:
Councillor Bill Firman "was upset that a map in the regional growth strategy," (produced by yet another level of government whose office is a few blocks from the District of Coldstream), "identifies a portion of Buchanan Road as a future development area."  Firman was then "told that the only reason the regional growth strategy includes the Buchanan Road site is because that area has been identified for growth by the District of Coldstream."
To which another councillor, Maria Besso replied "Huge swaths of land are identified (Ed. note: for development) near Lumby and Spallumcheen."

Huh?  A Coldstream councillor wants to forfeit a larger property tax base by giving it to other areas?  Huh? 

Getting back to Judy Paterson's point, we quote Councillor Gyula Kiss who responded to Councillor Firman:  "Developers must still come to us and it's up to us as a council to decide what must be done for the development," Kiss said. 

Perhaps a multi-use path?
Maybe cash to move along the approval process for a simple building permit?
(Note to self:  look up Extortion in the dictionary).

By the way, Councillor Firman (other councillors and Mayor Garlick), let it be known that it was the decision of a previous District of Coldstream Mayor and Council that Buchanan Road become a future development area.

"...a much smarter District of Coldstream Mayor and Council than the present ones," offers Kia.

Can you say AMALGAMATION?  Come on, Genie in a bottle, grant our wish!

The North Okanagan...over-governed and under-served

And today's Morning Star headline story "Mayor draws sharp attack" (by Richard Rolke) is simply more proof.

Jim Garlick, Coldstream mayor, says he is increasingly frustrated with Wayne Lippert over the future of water and parks and recreation.

"The main instigator of virtually every service review or the instigator of disruption (at meetings) is Wayne Lippert," Garlick told the Morning Star.  "I don't believe anyone can get along with Wayne Lippert.  We've seen that with the fire dispatch at the regional district."

Garlick is particularly upset with comments Lippert made about Coldstream not supporting Vernon withdrawing from water distribution.

"It just shows they can't hold to an agreement, so if you can't hold to an agreement with someone, what kind of partnership can you expect to have?"  Lippert told Kiss FM (radio station).

Garlick says Coldstream has been consistent about keeping the water utility intact and has been part of the negotiation process.

"Wayne Lippert has a way of turning everything into a fight,"  he said.

Garlick claims the ongoing disputes may be Lippert's way of encouraging amalgamation of Greater Vernon's jurisdictions.

"That's his main goal.  I don't think it's the City of Vernon, it's Wayne Lippert.  He wants to bring the Ontario amalgamation model here,"  said Garlick.

Lippert denies he is forcing amalgamation.

"Amalgamation will happen eventually if it's something citizens want," he said.

Lippert stands by his concerns about Coldstream's handling of the water utility.

"We all agreed to sit down with the province to work out an agreement and look at the best models.  Coldstream agreed to that but never signed the agreement.  They stalled it," he said.

Garlick opposes amalgamation and says the current governance structure allows his council to address the specific interests of Coldstream and to be financially accountable.

"In the case of amalgamation, service in the area would go to the service levels and costs of the city.  This would include garbage pick-up, transit and other departments that would have little if any benefits to the outside areas.  There will be the need to take on the costs of roads in the electoral areas from the province with increased expectations of service by the residences for those roads," he said.

However, Lippert says residents in all jurisdictions are considering amalgamation because of the disputes over water and parks.

"People are talking to me about it," he said.  "Areas B and C should be amalgamated with Vernon or Coldstream or incorporated as a municipality on their own.  In the long run, (amalgamation for) the whole North Okanagan should be looked at."  (end of Morning Star article)

Hmmm.....
 "...the current governance structure allows his council to address the specific interests of Coldstream and to be financially accountable. "

Allows?  to be financially accountable?  Allows?  Hmmm again!

"Maybe Coldstream's Mayor Garlick has spent too much time over an open formaldehyde jar in his lab," suggests Kia.

So typical of Garlick to not fathom the dollar savings of amalgamation...just think....we would save millions of dollars annually if Coldstream and Vernon amalgamated, if the Regional District were "gone", and Areas (affectionately named) F'n'G were absorbed into the nearest City. 

There might even be money left over to disinfect drinking water at Duteau Creek...

Emery Bardock off to Simon Fraser University

We first met Emery when she was just a teen, and the Kal Tire Junior Linkster Tour played Highlands Golf as part of their Okanagan circuit.

She's all grown up now, and this September is off to join the highly-touted golf team at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.

Emery Bardock, all grown up

 

 

 

 

Emery shot a 61 at Highlands today..."...took a double on number seven", she grinned, adding "great practice for my short game."

As a youngster, Emery participated in the Junior Linkster Tour under the leadership of Scott Harnett.

We'll be watching for your success at SFU, Emery!

Premier Christy Clark and the Liberals damaging Small Businesses

Occasionally a compelling Letter to the Editor warrants reprinting.

Mr. Jeff Wuolle--a small business owner in the North Okanagan--wrote the following, printed in The Morning Star on Sunday, July 3, 2011.

"Small business takes a hit, again
I had to wait so I could collect my thoughts on your most recent action plan announcements contained in The Vancouver Sun, in regards to the food and beverage industry being required to provide nutritional information on menu lists.  This, Madam Premier, is the final straw for many small businesses.

I am going to list some salient points that you and your cabinet members just don't seem to comprehend or deem important enough to consider.  I am but one operator in this province who is feeling the onerous and excessive weight of your policies while you pander for the votes of the general populace.

Since HST was introduced (Ed.note:  July 1, 2010), or should we say shoved down our collective throats, I have experienced the following:

• Closed one of our three operations and reduced our workforce by seven staff members at a payroll impact of over $85,000, plus their spending in the local economy of a 2.5-to-1 ratio impact as an economic generator.
• Returned our provincial liquor licence at a loss to the province of liquor tax and HST.

The increase of the minimum wage, while justified, could have been spread out over a longer impact period.  While I currently pay well over the new pay scales, I have now been approached by some staff to ascertain my plans to increase their wages because "they are now experienced staff members."

The possibility of your raising the small business tax by two per cent to cover the HST rebates to the general populace, and of course, that tax increase may never be rescinded in the future.

The ongoing increases in operating costs experienced daily (that are almost impossible to pass on daily to our customers and would they pay the rising costs anyway?) -- food, B.C. Hydro, telephone and all other operating expenses.  Oh, and let's not forget the increasing municipal costs from taxes to water to utilities, local assessments and on and on.

All of this while indexed pensions, salaries and expenses to our elected officials carry on unabated.

And then recently, I am being told that you are going to require nutritional contents on menus.

Notwithstanding daily efforts to provide home-cooked quality, meals and baking, we also provide all information that we have available when infrequently requested to do so.

The cavalier attitude of the president of the B.C. Restaurant and Foodservice Industry that "it only costs $500 per menu item to have your menu analyzed for content" is absolutely a ridiculous scenario.

As of today, that would be approximately $32,000 to cover off our basic menu items, not including ongoing daily specials and other products.  The upside, of course, would be that it would generate additional revenue for you to so wisely spend in the province.

Our industry sector is being flagellated to death with your policies and taxes.  I and everyone else would like to know where you and your staff are obtaining information that proves we have recovered from our recent recessionary economy, to the degree that we should be inundated with additional costs at this time?  I would dearly love for you to take some time out of your schedule and come put on a small business owner's hat for just one day and experience the pleasure of currently conducting business in this province.  Have you even asked about the number of food and beverage operations that have closed or are on the edge of the abyss of doing so?  How much are you and your colleagues prepared to pay for your daily food intake, without it coming out of taxpayers' pockets through reimbursed expenses?

As you slowly but inexplicably grind the provincial economy to a halt, I and most others would like to know when you will step back from these cavalier policies and also take your hands out of our financial pockets?"
Jeff Wuolle

"I don't need nutrition info on my kibbles," suggests Kia.

Thanks, Kia.  
And thanks, Jeff Wuolle, for perfectly expressing my own feelings as a small business owner.  The province's new Premier continues to shift policies decidedly to the left.

10 kW Wind Turbine Running Again

After 4 months and 4 days of downtime due to 2 blown 6 kW Power One inverters, we're back up and running today.

Add to that the 2 months it was down in 2010, and that adds up to 25 per cent downtime in two years.

Paul Wende, Energy West, installs the two new Aurora 6 kW inverters

And the problem?

"A loose bolt on the heat dump," says Paul.

In the Roses and Thorns department,  a bouquet of Thorns to Power One in California for the horrendously slow response from their Customer Service department.  After more than 3 months of back and forth--with no decisions forthcoming on inverter failure and replacement--Paul contacted the Vice President of the company.  Obviously the VP had the authority to make the decision, whereas others did not.

New Inverters en route from California!

Four days from today, we're at 4 months turbine production downtime (plus two months last year), so it was good to hear Paul Wende report that two new inverters were on their way from Power One in California.

"It took an hour on the phone with Power One's vice president of Global Renewable Energy group to discuss the inverter issue and Power One's customer service," advises Paul.

The vice president made the correct decision. 
Customer service dragged their heels.
Sales/warranty dragged their heels.

So the morale of the story is "start at the top, not at customer service" admonishes Kia.

And I'll cease calling them Power None...promise!

It'll be good to be up 'n running...again.

Now if only British Columbia's net metering system wasn't such a sham!

Coldstream Councillor Gyula Kiss needs a Dictionary

It could be pre-election posturing by Councillor Kiss.
It could be that he needs a refresher / reminder of historical water decisions here.
Or get a dictionary and look up what subsidy means.

Or maybe he just needs to believe Al Cotsworth, water utility manager, when Al stated "These six businesses don't need treated water," referring to the fact that chlorinated water is all that is available from the water utility to two golf courses (one of which is Highlands Golf), two nurseries, a light manufacturing facility that uses water for cooling, and a tourist attraction. 

Councillor Kiss' objection to the six businesses being billed about one-third of the cost the public is levied could be an attempt to garner residential votes for the November election.

Or maybe he needs a reminder that in 2005 we six businesses were faced with (former Vernon mayor) Sean Harvey's demand to the North Okanagan Regional District board that the non-potable commercial irrigation water category be eliminated in its entirety.  We six companies obtained a solicitor's services to represent us at the NORD board meeting and proved that while other communities were increasing the number of categories based on their users' needs, then-Mayor Harvey sought to reduce this area's to two:  "residential or farm", he was quoted as saying.  Ultimately the Board voted down Sean Harvey's request.  And ultimately Vernon elected a new mayor.

Now, six years later, the rest of the Board today seems tongue-tied, and Councillor Kiss' admonishment "(other) commercial and domestic customers are subsidizing the use of this water," was printed in The Morning Star on April 24, 2011, under the heading Water Use Charges Questioned. 

Okay, Councillor Kiss, so you want to talk about subsidies?

Pull up a chair and listen.
Highlands Golf C-5 commercial zoning is calculated by your Council as a multiplier of the residential rate of 2.95 to 1.
Highlands Golf pays three times the mill rate of residential property taxes.
Does that meet Councillor Kiss' definition of subsidy?

And until recently (before C-4 screamed bloody murder), major industry paid four times the residential rate.  The district of Coldstream is striving to reduce the class 4 tax rate by 2.5% per year in future; likely because they want to prove communities aren't built "on the backs of business". 

You also may be interested, Councillor Kiss, that Highlands Golf received a letter from NORD dated March 7, 2011, that confirmed this property's annual irrigation use and maximum flow available based on this property's allocation.  In 2010, irrigation water totalled 2,117 cubic metres.  The allocation on this property is -- are you still listening, Councillor Kiss? -- 22,275 cubic metres. 

As your "subsidy" comment proves you need help with math, Councillor Kiss, allow me to spell it out for you this way.
In 2010, Highlands Golf used less than one-tenth of its annual water allocation.
Yup...one-tenth.

I'd say that was damn commendable.

Back to golf courses.  Let's compare golf course water sources and competition for the retail golf market.
Of 15 golf courses surveyed by NORD research in 2005 in an area covering about 100 miles, only two (Hillview and Highlands) are on a metered system through the Greater Vernon water utility.  Predator Ridge and Vernon Golf are on meters, but use spray effluent, under contractual low-cost agreements with the city.  Seven other golf courses--including Royal York in Armstrong--are on "self" (wells).  The same is true of the two nurseries here:  Swan Lake and Art Knapp are on Greater Vernon water utility, while their competition (Bylands) is on a flat rate in Westbank.

So has it now come down to a case of wishing we had built our commercial facilities in another jurisdiction?
We commercial irrigation users would've been treated considerably better in Armstrong, Kelowna (both Glenmore and Black Mountain districts), Spallumcheen, Salmon Arm, Kamloops, Osoyoos and Westbank. 

Thirty-five years ago--when water allocation began to be purchased for the property that would one day feature Highlands Golf--taps spewed beige water, sometimes even containing lumpy organic debris.  Perfect for irrigation.  Today, irrigation water is chlorinated and additional demands by Interior Health to disinfect water at the new treatment plant is still "on the table".  The Greater Vernon Water Utility has plans to separate drinking water from domestic via dual lines, but the earliest (and unlikely) forecast for separation is 2015.

I'll happily bet a water official that separation does not occur by 2015.

And I'll also bet that Councillor Gyula Kiss will not regain his council seat in the November municipal election in Coldstream.

And I bet the other five commercial ventures wish they had located elsewhere.

"So we're moving?" queries Kia.

It's difficult to move a golf course.
But six-to-one say Councillor Kiss should move out of his director and councillor seats if he continues to lean whichever way the wind blows that week.

Coldstream Council's Surprise Tax Spike

Even Council is surprised.  Imagine that!

Coldstream Council is surprised the 0.7 per cent tax increase has "nearly doubled to 1.35 per cent", as reported in Wednesday April 13, 2011, Morning Star under the heading "Coldstream tax rate takes sudden spike."

"It was really a surprise," said Councillor Maria Besso, after staff presented the rate which is necessary to cover a drop in assessment values.

Apparently the unexpected doubling of taxes is necessary to achieve the same revenue targets as in the adopted financial plan.  "It would have cost us so much more in staff time," (to revisit the financial plan) said Besso.

Perhaps business could adopt that approach.
It'd save me time too, as it does their staff.

Lemmesee...expected annual revenue "x", divided by the number of golfers "y" gives total "A".

So, a decrease in number of golfers annually naturally means that each golfer should pay more per round to meet annual revenue projection.

What a novel idea.
Charge more per person, and always get the revenue you want.

Councillor Besso concludes, however, "if there was a huge outcry, then we'd have to eat crow."

"I can offer a Magpie," suggests Kia, "they taste the same as crow."

Kia's Lonely Winter Ends

...and she's ecstatic to see her friends again, despite the cool and wet weather.

Ione and Lynda braved the chilly weather to golf today while Kia waited for their return at the clubhouse.

"Oooh, that feels so good, only friends know how to rub my back." admits Kia.

2011 Golf Season

Forty-nine calls on the answering machine this week...
Tournament bookings coming in.

Okay...okay.

Highlands Golf will open for public play on Thursday, March 24th.

Men's Nite Tuesdays will begin on April 12th. 

"Golfers should wear two gloves," advises Kia, "It's still cool out there."

10kW Wind Turbine 0, Storm 2

Twice in one-and-a-half years.

A mammoth windstorm during Saturday night on February 12th, 2011 has once again "fried" Power One's 6kW inverters, only this time both inverters were affected.  At bedtime, I noticed windspeed was 58 kph as recorded on the residence's Bios weather station.

Last year's mid-May storm affected only one of our two parallel-wired inverters.  This time it's both.

Energy West's Paul Wende on Monday logged onto the controller software via his laptop.
He checked settings and advised that all were within safe operating ranges, but since the controller of the 10 kW wind turbine has no built-in memory, no record exists of the voltage and RPMs of the turbine.
Controller hardware appeared to be physically unaffected by the night's events.

Paul removed the two Aurora inverter covers and announced both inverters "fried".

Paul Wende investigates

A lot of "soot" inside the second inverter

More "soot" inside the first inverter

Inverters were packed into boxes for return to Power One in California, where an investigation will show inverter logs of the last voltages received.  After inverter damage in May of 2010, a new inverter took two months to arrive, its last log indicated maximum voltages had NOT been exceeded!  The two-month timeframe will likely be repeated in this case.

That wasn't the only damage that night.
The new nets and poles at the golf course's west fenceline were still standing, but a hardware bolt--holding the aircraft cable on Pole 3--broke, allowing the cable and net to droop.  Advanced Powerline of Kelowna was called and, five minutes later, their crew drove into the driveway.  A crew member chuckled at my stunned look, "we weren't far away when we got the call from the office!"

Jeff, plus two colleagues on the ground, raised the cable.

"Haven't seen one of those hardware pieces break recently, but they did get some bad ones a couple of years ago."  He added, "Maybe you got one of those."

"Have you got a couple of inverters in your office we could borrow?" suggests Kia.

Jim Bodkin Letter to the Editor re NORD

Excerpt from The Morning Star, February 2, 2011.

Excellent stuff, worth repeating everywhere!

"The Morning Star front page headline, 'Water rates could soar'  is nothing more than wishful thinking on the part of our local elected officials.  Greater Vernon has some of the highest wter rates in the Okanagan and it is inevitable that these rates will soar well beyond inflation.  Let us all hope that sufficient domestic water is available for purchase regardless of the price.

Two recent decisions by our water officials have decreased substantially the amount of water available for domestic consumption:  1)  the intake on Kale Lake closest to Coldstream Creek has been deemed most suitable for agricultural use and will no longer be used for domestic water, and 2) the 3,000 domestic customers previously supplied from wells have been switched to Duteau water and the well water set aside for agricultural use only.  The rationale given is that it has become too costly to treat water from these two sources to the standard required for domestic usage.

Some of our councillors point the finger at Interior Health but then say not to worry.  They say only 1.2 per cent of our total water comes from wells.  That is true but very misleading because the bulk of our wter is used for agriculture.  Calculating the percentage more appropriately would show that those 3,000 switched well-wtaer customers accounted for a much greater percentage of domestic water usage.

The mega dollars spent on the Duteau Creek treatment plant did not add one drop of extra water to our supply; all the money spent went to making the water coming from the Aberdeen Plateau sources more palatable and less subject to boil water advisories.  The problem is we do not have enough water to satisfy both domestic and agricultural demand except in average or better years of winter snowpack followed by average or better years of summer rainfall.

Our local councillors' growth at any cost mentality is to blame for letting our population growth outstrip our water supply.  We live in an arid climate and approving housing development after housing development has brought us to the point where water restrictions are in place year-round and additional restrictions are necessary in drier than average years.  Only by spending a lot more money to raise dams or drill more wells can we provide water to the 8,000 ready to build home lots already approved by present and past councillors.

The impacts of scarce and expensive water are with us now and the more our population grows the greater the impact will be.  Brown lawns are no big deal; grass has evolved to cope with summer drought and can survive.  The same cannot be said for our urban forest canopy.  Drought stress is becoming more noticeable in residential trees that are no longer being irrigated; it will take them a while to die from drought but disease and insect attack as they weaken will extract an earlier toll.  Some, of course, will cheer the demise of non-native trees but I will mourn their loss of beauty, shade and birdsong.

We taxpayers have and are changing our behaviour to conserve water but we need our politicians to help too by keeping some incentive in the system.  We use less water but then the water purification plant officials decide to raise rates to cover higher per-unit operating costs.  That creates a self-perpetuating no-win situation our politicians need to address.  A good starting point is to look at how officials have loaded long-term water costs onto the front end so we present-day users are being unfairly overbilled today rather than these costs being amortized over the life of the asset.  Fairness means pricing water at the cost of treatment and delivery.  Overcharging for a public good to build up reserves for future use is not how democracy is supposed to work...we all should pay as we go, not a penny more; not a penny less.  For those who have forgotten, we call it responsible government.

Another issue needing councillor action is stopping hobby farmers and country estate owners from using cheaper agricultural water.  Most people agree real farmers earning all or much of their livelihood from growing food deserve lower agricultural rates but hardly anyone agrees that such rates are deserved by fake farmers who are simply taking advantage of a cheap water loophole.

Well-paid officials and councillors collecting stipends from multiple sources need to recognize that many taxpayers are struggling to keep their head above water on fixed pensions, shortened hours and low-paying jobs.  It seems to me that for meaningful change some new "bums" are needed come November elections to replace those overly comfortable in the well-upholstered pews around our council chambers."

Jim Bodkin.

"Why can't our elected officials lower our water costs by charging newcomers with the more equitable and time-tested 'latecomer fees'?" asks Kia.  


After all, we built and paid for the system.
New users should, in effect, reimburse us.

Good question, Kia.
Good letter, Jim. 
Good luck, officials

Water Goes Uphill in the North Okanagan

...Judging by yet another round of rate increases.

On Friday, the Regional District of North Okanagan issued what they term a "preliminary review".

It can't be preliminary if the rates have been enacted and are merely subjec to budget ratification.
And it can't be a review when new rates are taking effect now.

That aside...three areas of water billing are affected:

1. The first 20 cubic metres--the "allowance"--of water consumption in each of four Quarters is gone.  You will pay 60 cents per cubic metre as soon as the first drop hits your sink.
2. The Base Fee--the amount you would pay if you used no water at all in each Quarter--has risen to $66.20, an increase of $16.03.  Through 12 months, that equals $64.12 more for not using any water.
3. Bureaucrats--likely feeling the growing public chill--smartly chose to eliminate the 2010 third quarter surcharge of 18 cents per cubic metre.  Third Q--you know--when it's really really really hot and we need to water more).
4. Then, just to prove these gougers have left no stone unturned in their search for water...er...a...money, they get you coming or going with the sliding block increases: Block 1 is 0-10 m3 = 60 cents/m3.   Block 2 is 10 (shouldn't it be "11"?) to 40 m3 =75 cents /m3;  Block 3 is 40 (41) to 80 m3 = 90 cents/m3;  and Block 4 is any quarterly usage over 80 (81) m3 at $1.10 /m3.

One cubic metre (m3) equals 1,000 liters which equal 220 Imperial gallons, far too much for one bath unless you have at least a few people sharing that bath with you.

All joking aside, this isn't about conserving a scarce resource--or people's taps would automatically be turned off at a maximum per year usage for that household.  It's about getting the maximum revenue that the public can bear so that the water utility doesn't have to address the slippery issue of having too many engineers on staff.  Engineers who hire work out to other engineers, acting as consultants, so the first engineers can be at arms-length (blame) from decisions that go sideways.

Bureaucratic professionals are overseers, they don't do the work themselves, which adds up to a whopping 45 to 50 per cent of what we pay going to wages and benefits. 

Increasingly, committees of unelected people make decisions that affect you and your family.  You cannot vote them in--or out.  They've been appointed.  Noteworthy in this category is the Okanagan Basin Water Board, who now give grants to communities!  But only if those communities jump through the OBWB's hoops.  Heaven forbid the OBWB would actually focus on something meaty, like increasing reservoir storage at the Duteau plateau for a growing community!   Or Interior Health (beats me why they insist on adding the word "Authority" to that handle, as though they lack clout!)...who are mandating water quality changes that would make Abu Dhabi proud.  But unlike the OBWB, they don't bring a penny to the table.  Neither do they prevent mudboggers and unauthorized access to the Duteau Creek water reservoirs, with nary a sign or improved fencing planned.  Nope, they simply demand what we must do. 

The result of this latest flash through family wallets is that rich people can use all the water they wish--because they can well afford to pay whatever the bill says.  The waning middle class--and poor families--simply cannot conserve the resource any further than they already have, especially today with the focus on growing your own food.  What's next for them?  Not washing clothes?  Not bathing the children?

It'll soon be cheaper to truck water in from Aunt Martha in Winnipeg. 

"We have an Aunt Martha in Winnipeg?", queries Kia.