Responsibility is not a local one

Dear Editor: Two letters to the editor from Mssrs. Turner and Wiltse (Herald, Jan. 17) provide some great counsel.

When citizens write the media and question Penticton’s staff initiatives on issues like a new boat for the fire department to provide rescue services, it creates the impression that no one at city hall listens to and acts on their concerns. Is safety on the lakes important? Absolutely. Is it the responsibility of Penticton taxpayers? Absolutely not! A new boat for the fire department is uncalled for and at least two other governments have rejected a request for funding. Namely, the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen and Summerland’s council.

Who asked the new fire chief to find a new boat anyway? Where is the business case that shows it is a priority among Penticton’s citizens?

It’s a provincial responsibility, not a municipal responsibility.

The fire chief, and the rest of staff, should get their priorities from the citizens of the community,

Mr. Ted Wiltse’s suggestion that council engage the public to determine priorities is well-heeled. There’s already a 1 per cent tax increase on the books with the RDOS putting in a new conservation fund that this council should have opted out of. We are also on the hook for a new park on Campbell Mountain that should be regionally funded.

Also, what citizen group asked for a review of utility bills that will add several hundred dollars to the annual utility bill for most residents? This issue alone has caused considerable social media traffic.

I too would like to see each member of council explain their:

• priorities on funding the infrastructure deficit, • proposals on cost allocations, and • steps that need to be taken, not staff’s, but council’s.

Any meeting could easily be facilitated by the engagement officer and the timing is perfect. Wayne Llewellyn Penticton roads, sidewalks, sewer, water, and electrical expansion and that may be true. Still, the long-term repair and maintenance costs, will be shared by all Summerland residents, forever.

A shuttle will help move the facilities residents around the community but this development is too far to be considered in the core of Summerland. Very few if any will be able to walk up into the downtown area to enjoy the shopping, social and recreational opportunities. Even getting out and walking the steep hills will be difficult for most seniors living in the facility.

While this land in not in the ALR it is still currently used for agricultural purposes so it does seem odd to many of us that it is okay to suddenly turn this land into high-rise concrete buildings. I understand how many of the councillors must feel looking at the limited tax dollars you have available to manage Summerland.

Wouldn’t it be better to develop from the core of our community outward using the infrastructure we already have in place? Wouldn’t it be better to build this type of development where people can enjoy the easy access to shopping, recreation, and the library, just to name a few?

You have been given the “okay” to keep the schools open for now but if you don’t encourage more families into town, eventually the schools will close. Wouldn’t it be better to build more family housing in the core of town?

This development is a good one. However, until land is available closer to the downtown core, it should be deferred into the future. Janice Perrino Nanaimo EDITOR’S NOTE: Ms. Perrino was mayor of Summerland from 2008 – 2014.