Sagebrush decision wrought with problems

Editor:rnInterior Health's Sagebrush Lodge deci-sion is wrought with problems.
In their recent news article in the Times, Interior Health explains Sagebrush Lodge decision Wednesday February 15, Interior Health (IH) attempts to explain the need for a new for-profit residential care facility in Osoyoos.
The attempts in the article by Mayor Slater and Councillor Flintoff to make IH more accountable to the community are highly commendable. Undoubtedly, the IH initiative is wrought with problems and doesn't address the real impact that this poor planning decision will have on the community at large.
I also believe, along with the Council, that this decision will result in great hardship to the community in many ways. Economic growth will be impacted by the significant loss of jobs at Sagebrush Lodge while workers and their families are forced to exodus to other communities for em-ployment. The need for any additional future residential beds in Osoyoos based on population growth may also be thwarted as well.
Mr. Mazurkewich's statement about little or no job loss is also inaccurate and worri-some. Mr. Mazurkewich assures the public that current IH staff will go to work at the new facility, yet past practice actually proves different. When Penticton District Retirement Centre closed, only one registered nurse (on shift for only 12 hours a day by the way) was hired at the Good Samaritan facility – the remainder had to find jobs elsewhere!rnIf Mr. Mazurkewich is convinced that the problematic IH plan will go ahead and that the successful proponent will in fact employ existing staff, then I would challenge him to negotiate a memoran-dum of agreement now with health care providers that ensures existing staff at Sagebrush Lodge will be guaranteed future employment and remain a vital part of the community.
Yours truly,rnMyrna Allison,

Regional ChairrnBC Nurses Union

Editor:rnHaving read the article in your February 22nd paper regarding the motel owner stating his case about the trucks cluttering his entrance and endangering people, I am appalled at the reaction of our Town Council.
The Council say they have no jurisdiction. This is a safety issue. You assume jurisdiction. You take control over a ridiculous situation where truckers are parking illegally, and jay-walking across the highway to satisfy their craze for Tim Horton's coffee. There is going to be an accident, not IF but WHEN.
Would Council please get the lead out of their back-sides, and post appropriate signs to prevent these truckers from their illegal and dangerous actions.
You don't have to get the teacher's permission when you must go to the washroom, it is an emergency. Safety is an emergency. Council should take action immediately and worry about the consequences later, if there are any.
E.R. KerrrnOsoyoos

Editor:rnThe town provided six paved parking spaces on Tamarack just off Highway #3, abutting Rattlesnake Canyon at a cost of $20,000.
In addition Tamarack was paved up to the east entrance of this amusement park. These parking spots are always vacant.
On the east side of this block is a play field and are the mailboxes serving the people on a daily basis. That entire east side of this block is just a graveled over area.
#1 – What motivated the town to make such an expenditure at that location which does not provide any benefit to neither the park nor the mailbox visitors.
#2 – When in the opinion of mayor and council are these parking locations going to be used.
L. Kurvers