City refused to listen

Dear Editor: According to the City of Penticton’s recent Skaha Lake Park “fact sheet” document found online, I quote: “There was been a lot of animosity regarding this issue. Has the City listened to the opposing voices?”

Unfortunately, the City of Penticton has not listened to opposing voices. The proposed waterslide was not the root cause of the controversy. The opposing voices to the “waterslide” were the taxpayers objecting to the commercialization of our parkland.

In 2002, a group of concerned citizens got together and demanded a referendum to dedicate our parks as public parks, when, at that time there were no specific park bylaws. There was a concern that a developer was prepared to lease or purchase one of our parks. Council responded and the citizens had a referendum.

2002 - 42 Referendum Question: “Do you approve of the City of Penticton adoption bylaw 2002-42, which would dedicate the following parcels of City owned lands as public parks?”

The result of the referendum was an overwhelming support from Penticton citizens to protect our parks. Thus the Bylaw 2002-42.

If the City of Penticton asked the question in 2013: “Would you like to see a commercial waterslide in our public park?”

First thought that comes to mind; “Who would ask a question like that about a dedicated park?”

Was there was no existing bylaw that said you cannot put a commercial waterslide in the dedicated Skaha Park? But why not?

Would you like to see a hamburger stand, or a beer store in our graveyard? Our graveyard is owned by the citizens of Penticton. People get hungry and sure could use a drink at a grave site .

Surely not a good idea, although there is no bylaw even suggesting that it would be not be OK!

Was the intent of the Bylaw 200242 to save our parkland as a public park? Yes. Or was the bylaw written especially to give Trio Marine Group a 39-year lease, along with a monopoly for all commercial enterprises in the whole park?

I hope not. Helen Trevors Penticton per cent sewer rate increase and a 29 per cent basic charge increase over the next three years. You need to understand that your basic sewer charge will be added to your utility bill in April to September each year.

This council is very sneaky on how they implement rate increases, they have reduced the sewer rate in the first year in an attempt to fool the rental community of the real sewer rates that will peak in 2020.

This far from transparent and honest. Penticton City Council owes you a summary of your water consumption that can be compared with all Penticton residential water consumers. Council must provide the residents with the water consumption numbers that fall within each 200 cubic feet of water consumed each month.

You need to understand that your water consumption determines your sewer charge. For example, say 5,000 of 14,000 residences consumed between 400 and 600 cubic feet of water per month, you will soon understand if your water consumption is excessive when compared to monthly water consumption of others.

Families, your sewer charge has increased for obvious reasons, more bodies equals more water consumption. For 2017 your sewer charge will be $4.96 for each 100 feet of water consumption (500/100 x $4.96 = $24.80).

Council, do you have the ability to help the Penticton utility users understand their water consumption rates when compared to others? Council, do you have the ability to inform the utility users on all possible methods of how to reduce water consumption and thus reduce the sewer charge?

Council, possibly you have an opportunity to impress the residents and prove that you should not receive the big boot in the 2018 election.

Residents, as the 2018 election approaches, we will need to hold boot rallies and offer our support to fairminded, knowledgeable candidates for council. Ted Wiltse Penticton even greater strides for B.C.

She was caught on some non-disclosed donations. She made a big to do about paying back $75,000 to $100,000. Is this her mea culpa for raking in massive undisclosed donations? Almost like getting caught with a hand in the cookie jar so to speak.

Does she think that all B.C. voters are totally naive and stupid?

How about the government’s handling of the teacher situation? Now the government is promising almost anything that relates to education. They will not admit that they screwed up and students, teachers and education as a whole were set back. There is no way that there will be a catch up any time soon.

There is the issue of the balanced budget. If the budget is so balanced where is all of the money coming from to promote education, jobs, infrastructure etc.?

The simple answer probably is like their federal counterparts, borrow, borrow, borrow. By the end of this year the estimate of indebtedness is said to be between $17 billion and $30 billion plus or minus. This is balanced? She’s got a lot of nerve to say “you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet;” watch me in the next four years. Presumptive or what?

You might be thinking, he’s not a Liberal; he must be NDP.

At this stage of the game, I cannot really support either party. There is some real digging to be done before the election.

It will not be an easy decision either.

I encourage all voters to vote with their heads and not their hearts.

Don’t be bamboozled by “pie in the sky promises” irrespective of what party promises them! Ron Barillaro

Penticton