Town Hall (File photo)
Dear Editor:
This is an open letter to Town of Osoyoos mayor Sue McKortoff and members of Osoyoos town council.
This letter is written in relation to a notice that appeared in the January 17, 2019 edition of the Osoyoos Times titled: Public Notice: Alternative Approval Process for Reconstruction Sewer Main Lift Station.
In the notice, the following was stated: “The total cost of the reconstruction of the sewer Main Lift Station is $5,939,000. The cost portion is $5,136,000, which includes a 10 per cent contingency allowance. The balance of the funding is secured with Sewer Reserve and Operating Funds.”
This statement is not clear or transparent because it does not say to whom the amount of $853,000, over and above the construction portion, will be paid.
I would also like to point out that the method of approval for this funding is problematic. Although the funding can be blocked if 10 per cent of electors (421) complete a form that signals their opposition, unfortunately for those who might be opposed to this funding, there is not enough information available for a campaign to be undertaken to reach the 10 per cent threshold. This may suit and serve the interests of Town Council, and particularly the administrative officer and directors of various departments, but it is not fair, just or democratic to require those opposed to reach a 10 per cent threshold without having access to information that would support their view and allow them to convince others to join them in opposing the funding.
As an alternative, I am asking, respectfully, that mayor McKortoff and councillors of the Town of Osoyoos put the matter to a referendum, so that electors could be fully informed and their wishes could be expressed clearly and in a democratic way.
At present, with the proposed Alternative Approval Electoral Response form, we the electors of the Town of Osoyoos do not have all the information needed to make a careful, considered decision on such a large expenditure. In a referendum, by contrast, the mayor and council would be required, by law, to provide us with costs specified in writing, detailing who gets paid how much, including constructors, suppliers, engineers and consultants, as well as details of banking fees and interest amounts for a 20-year mortgage period. This transparency would provide electors with the information they need to make a thoughtful decision.
A good example of not choosing a transparent method of deciding about funding is provided by the construction of the mega fire hall, which was approved in 2014. To this day, we have not been told how much this mega structure will actually cost the taxpayers of Osoyoos.
The mayor and councillors may try to defend the funding approval process they have proposed by telling tax payers that a referendum would cost a lot of money. I suggest that when it is proposed to spend over $5 million, taking steps to spell out what costs are involved and then deciding yes or no via referendum would be, from the point of view of the tax payers of Osoyoos, both prudent and democratic. A price cannot be put on democracy.
Sy Murseli “Council Watchdog,”
Osoyoos, B.C.
