Power Pole

Here is the November 10 CHBC 5 & 11PM report on the ongoing saga of the power pole on a Killiney Beach Park waterfront site. The RDCO spokesperson personifies the lack of any concern for the wishes of the residents that pay the taxes and end up funding all this nonsense. As a member of the Regional Board I am embarrassed by the utter disdain shown here to the clear wishes of my community and its residents.

The CHBC Nov 10 5:00 – Power Pole story is worth watching as it articulates the huge divide between the community and the organization (RDCO) that dictates what services they can have, physician the level of that service, cheap the cost of that service and how little input that residents and the elected official for that area truly have in those decisions. Here are some excerpts from that story.

“At this point we don’t see any justification for moving the pole. It’s an almost one hectare waterfront park. The pole doesn’t affect access to the park in anyway, ask ” said regional district spokesman Bruce Smith.

The RDCO argues a move might have hidden environmental costs because of endangered trees in the area.url

“It cost about $7,000 to install the pole in the first place. In order to get it compliant and legal it cost us about $6,800 dollars. That’s why we are in the process of getting accurate cost estimates,” said Smith. Admin – The $6800 referred to here as the money spent “to get it compliant” was as a result of the pole being installed without permission in an environmentally sensitive area hence the Trespass Notice being issued against the RDCO by the Provincial Ministry responsible. Had RDCO followed the rules none of this expense and aggravation would have occurred to the community or the RDCO itself.

However, those who want the pole moved aren’t impressed that the regional district has spent thousands legitimatizing it. NWCA vice president Michelle Carson has argue the district has been “fighting … the expressed wishes of the community.”

For some who live in the area it is just another example of why they don’t feel the regional district is responsive enough to their needs.

Their one local area director is easily outvoted on a regional district board dominated by representatives from Kelowna and other municipalities.

“This is just a very blatant example of them not listening to our concerns or addressing our concerns,” said Carson, who is married to local regional district area director Wayne Carson.

They’ve been calling for a provincially funded study to look at the way the North Westside area is governed.

“Having a different form of government that is local is more important than anything,” said Andrews.

The province is expected to make a presentation to the regional district board about a governance study later this month.

However, the province says for funding to be provided for a study the regional district would have to request it.

In the meantime, the regional district argues it is responding to concerns by reviewing the location of the embattled pole.

No democracy for the North Westside is the main driver for the Governance Study overwhelmingly requested by the residents of that area. Taxation without real representation is the real problem. Here is another related news story by Global

Rural Okanagan residents seek new governance model

 

 

 

 

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