Former mayor says referendum is needed to allow citizens to have final say on Osoyoos airport’s future

Dear Editor:

I see that the Osoyoos Airport issue has come around again.

The Osoyoos Airport Development Committee is asking for $15,000 to fund half of a comprehensive business plan.

I have seen hundreds of business plans and have never seen a plan that recommended a negative position.  With that in mind, I would like to respectfully recommend that the airport question be forwarded to the local residents in the form of a referendum.

The business plan funding could be applied to the referendum costs.

A referendum would truly reflect the wishes of the citizens.

Rather than a lot of coffee shop innuendo, the town would have input from the majority of residents.  Osoyoos has a great record of holding successful referendums, including recent ones relating to the Osoyoos Museum, gaming and paying for a new fire hall.

These referendums reflected to council the long-term wishes of the electorate.

The long-term approach is far superior to the wishes of a one-term elected council that may experience an electoral reversal of direction.

There is also the possibility of staff changes over this period.

A referendum is a very cost effective and efficient method to long-term planning of major issues.

My understanding of the financial commitment being asked for by the airport development society is for $15,000, then the short term fix being $1 to $2 million and the long term requirement being $5 million.

My further understanding is that the property acquisition would be another $5 million.

These figures were taken from other media reports and statements directed to council.

These are some major costs that must come from a very small assessment base.

There are further major issues to overcome, such as the expansion lands for any airport expansion are privately held and are within the Agricultural Land Reserve.

They are also not within the town boundary, but within the RDOS boundary. It is my understanding that the federal government may stop paying the Penticton Airport operating deficit of approximately $800,000 per year.

If this happens, the deficit may have to be paid by the RDOS.

Osoyoos is approximately a 10 per cent payer of RDOS property assessments.  This would be a further draw on the town’s finances.

In summary, I would urge town council to look to a referendum for a clear, concise, efficient and economic solution to this airport issue.

Thank you.

Stu Wells,

Osoyoos, B.C.