Destination Osoyoos' accounting is long overdue
Editor:rnCongratulations on a timely and well considered editorial (Destination Osoyoos' books should be open to the public in Sept. 28th issue).
The people of Osoyoos deserve a full accounting for the use of tax dollars given to Destination Osoyoos and the results they have achieved using them.
The Town of Osoyoos currently has a five-year commitment to Destination Osoyoos for nearly $1.2 million!
This is in addition to several hundred thousand dollars previously granted to them.
The directors of Destination Osoyoos have a serious obligation to provide such an accounting and the Mayor and Council have the right and indeed the obligation to demand a public accounting.
Citizens raised this matter at the Town's annual meeting on June 20 and again on Sept. 15 at the Question and Answer session with the Mayor sponsored by Osoyoos Now.
The people of Osoyoos cannot tolerate this lack of transparency regarding the use of public funds.
We await this long overdue accounting of the use of our tax dollars by Destination Osoyoos.
Michael Ryan, Osoyoos
Editor:rnThe walnut orchard has been making a lot of news in the past few weeks.
Letters in the paper have called for the citizens of the Osoyoos area to become aware of the proposed development.
The town has informed the citizens that when a development is built, money can be given in lieu of green space.
In Dave Gillies letter of Sept. 29 he suggested the walnut orchard become a park. I agree with this, maybe it is time for the town to use the capital from previous developments and purchase this land.
The southeast section of the lake does not have a park with town boundaries. If the cost is too great for town, maybe the Regional District could be approached to help purchase this land. The park would be used by both town and rural residents.
Linda McWhinniernOsoyoos
Editor:rnAs a long-time resident of Osoyoos, I noted with some interest Charles E. (Chuck) Emery's designation as the former Mayor of Osoyoos (Letters to the Editor, September 28; also Times issue of Sept. 21)rnIn the interests of accuracy, and with all due respect to Mr. Emery's many years of service to the municipality in the 1950's and 1960's, the fact of the matter is the Mr. Emery was never mayor of Osoyoos. This community did not even have a mayor until 1969.
Municipal records show that the municipality of Osoyoos was governed from its incorporation in 1946 through to 1969 by a Board of Commissioners. The Commissioners were elected by Osoyoos voters, and the Commissioners in turn elected their Chairman. Mr. Emery was Chairman of the Board of Commissioners in 1952 to 1954, and then again from 1962 to 1967.
In 1969 the Board of Commissioners system was scrapped in favour of the system we have today, with a four-person elected council and separately elected mayor and J.B. (Jack) Shaw became the first mayor of Osoyoos, a post he held through to 1977. He was followed in that position by Robert (Bob) Frost 1978-1987, Mike Radi 1988-1989, Tom Shields 1990-1996, John Cooper 1996-1999, Tom Shields again 1999-2002, and John Slater 2002-present.
Frank R. Stariha, Osoyoos
