Skaha Park marina saga continues

DEAR EDITOR:

As I think back many years and revisit certain things, I recall an occasion or two that stand out. There were some things that I wanted and wanted badly that for various reasons did not materialize.

Parents told me that it was not a good idea; it was a waste of money; that I would buy it and invariably tire of it and there were sundry odd other negative reasons.

One time, I did what I wanted to. This was not to show them up or say I told you so. Instead, it was an expression of having fully researched and evaluated things before I went ahead. I realized good dollar value.

Where am I going with this, you might ask? I am drawing a comparison to the actions of council with reference to the Skaha Park and marina issue. There are some parallels here.

The city bought and paid for a product $120,000 from Urban Systems.

Recommendations were presented to council and then the whole thing died on the vine it seems. Issues presented fell by the wayside or were just ignored as City and staff supposedly knew better.

But did they really?

This scenario paints a picture of going into a store to buy something; paying for it; having it packaged and leaving it on the counter and walking out without it. Is this a good business practice? You be the judge, as they used your tax dollars.

The question regarding park and marina development was very weakly drawn up. It did not deal with a complete scenario. Instead, it dealt with someone overseeing the park for up to 25 years.

Hardly a fair question to deal with the real issues.

Now that council and staff have made known the fact that they are on the search for possible candidates to fulfill the “monster mandate” comes the realization that we have been sold a bill of goods.

Not too long ago, the City appointed Parks Advisory Board presented the fact that true parks should be “unencumbered.” At the time, the council seemed to be on board with this. Yet recently, council stated that it had the full endorsement of this by that very advisory board. Is council suffering from the “Pinocchio affect” possibly.

If this debacle is allowed to take place be prepared for some heretofore not wanted change to this taxpayer owned park.

Ron Barillaro

Penticton