This conceptual drawing presented to councillors in their agenda package shows what the completed new fire hall could look like. Council has backed away from a referendum.
Dear Editor:
We totally concur with Derek Noske’s Letter to the Editor that appeared in the July 16 edition of the Osoyoos Times.
We feel that the whole process relating to the new proposed fire hall for the Town of Osoyoos has been circumvented by not implementing the Community Charter in its entirety and has only been used to the advantage of the town council.
There have been issues with this matter from the onset with the purchase of the Richter Property in August of 2008, when it was indicated no public input was required as it could have influenced the purchase price of $2.03 million for a property that was assessed at $14.016 million at the time.
It has taken council a mere five years to put together a pre-design study we believe is based on a “wish list” from the Osoyoos Volunteer Fire Department and many residents feel they are being “railroaded”.
We were then given the opportunity to have a say in this new $6.6 million fire hall with a proposed referendum originally scheduled for some time between the May long weekend and the end of June.
This council, in its wisdom, chose to reverse that decision and now opt for negative petition sometime in the near future.
If this is allowed to proceed without being challenged by the residents of Osoyoos, the cost will be astronomical, taking into account the cost of the property and the cost of the fire hall, which will then total $8.63 million and doesn’t include the cost of pre-design and studies.
All of this money has to come out of the public purse and it will be at a cost of 9.30 per cent on residential property tax with the interest at 3.3 per cent over 30 years.
One has to wonder what that cost will be if the interest rates increase as anticipated over the next few years.
We feel that the town council should reconsider and adopt a more realistic approach, such as a smaller, less costly fire hall that has the potential to be upgraded when the town requires.
We are asking all those residents of Osoyoos who support us in the upcoming negative petition to sign the petition and, if you feel strong enough, to contact us at 250-495-3495.
Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Ray Vandenberg
Jean Clarke
Osoyoos, B.C.
