The managing partner of Osoyoos Mountain Estates Inc. (OMEI) wants to set the record straight and confirm his company had nothing to do with the recent controversy surrounding Osoyoos Mayor Stu Wells and his wife Martha Collins entering private property and removing signs protesting a local real estate developer.

In an article that appeared in the Osoyoos Times October 29, it was mentioned that a former employee of OMEI was involved in the theft of signs from the property of Anarchist Mountain homeowner, along with Wells and his wife.

Last week, Wells admitted he and his wife did remove the signs as he believed they were impeding the progress of real estate development sales near Oliver Betz’s home.

Wells wrote a sincere letter of apology to Betz as part of a court-ordered “diversion program.”

Betz released information two weeks ago to media outlets across the South Okanagan that Wells and his wife had been involved in an incident on his property.

Wells, Collins and the woman, who has not been named, attended an open house of a show home built by OMEI in late June of 2013.

After attending the open house, Wells and Collins and the woman entered Betz’s property and removed several signs that read “Buyer Beware.”

Betz erected the signs after a longstanding feud with former Regal Ridge developer Adrian Erickson. Erickson had failed to fulfill a promise to Betz and several dozen other property owners in the former Regal Ridge development to provide amenities such as electricity and phone service.

Ron Palmer, managing partner of OMEI, said he wanted the public to know the the open house wasn’t organized or hosted by OMEI, but a Kelowna-based marketing firm hired by OMEI.

The working relationship between OMEI and that marketing firm lasted only three months when both parties agreed their business relationship should come to an end, said Palmer.

Any suggestion that the woman who accompanied Wells and Collins the night in question worked for OMEI is not accurate, said Palmer.

“We gave the marketing firm their own budget and full operational control over marketing our properties on Anarchist Mountain,” said Palmer. “They had three employees and they controlled their own marketing plan.

“At the open house in question, to my knowledge there wasn’t a single employee from OMEI in attendance. So any suggestion that the woman involved in this incident worked for OMEI is not accurate.”

As part of his lengthy letter of apology, Wells wrote to Betz, “To have purchased your dream property and not be able to build on the lot is both unfathomable by me and unconscionable by the developer. This was exacerbated by my callous disregard for your rights and freedoms. I understand there has also been an element of harassment by the developers and sales force. My actions on that evening certainly added to your stress and anguish.”

Palmer said no one from his company has ever harassed anyone who has ever purchased a lot from OMEI since they were awarded 3,500 acres in a land deal for money owed to them by Erickson.

At no time has he or any member from OMEI management ever spoken to Wells about the Anarchist Mountain development or any concerns about lots they are selling in the area, said Palmer.

He has also never talked to Betz about the incident in question.

OMEI has helped develop 25 lots for sale on Anarchist Mountain over the past two years and every one is fully serviced, he said.

“We are very pleased with sales results so far this year,” said Palmer.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times