Editor:
I attended the July 6 public hearing at the Sonora Centre.
I must compliment the participants for a well-thought out series of presentations.
Some that should have been strong were weak but generally what came to light was the Town has a bylaw that limits dock length into Osoyoos Lake to 30 metres.
The Town proposes to totally ignore this bylaw which if memory serves was intended to preserve the lake view and limit the risk of boats colliding with docks at night.
The Marina dock will be 75 metres into the lake.
Far in excess of the legal Town of Osoyoos limit.
That opens the door for future abuse.
Something not raised was the Town will be the proud owners of approximately 70 slips.
The rental numbers bandied about went from $45 a day to $3,500 a season.
Nowhere was there a mention of a proper business plan that would show a yearly profitable operation of these slips derived from the 12 weeks of tourist season.
If they are money losers, guess who will be paying for them.
Who in their right mind would pay $45 to tie up a little motor boat for a day?
Council is having Technicolor dreams.
You may get some business at a buck a foot but I’d not invest my money in a marina operation on this lake if it had to be self supporting and my only source of income.
In order to be a successful marina operation that can stand alone it takes many customers to make the necessary dollars in 12 weeks to cover a year’s costs.
Many customers also means more employees and additional costs.
I have serious doubts the occupancy rate would support all the costs.
Council mentioned a marina could sell boats and marine hardware.
In this town that’s an absolute nonstarter.
Do the numbers, it’s not that hard.
Marinas in Penticton carry minimal stock because of low demand and a short season.
These high expectations demonstrate very well that Council obviously doesn’t know the marine business.
Construction costs are expected (maybe) to be about $250,000.
I think it will take a lot of rentals to get back the Town’s 50-per-cent share of costs after expenses.
There was also talk of a bubbler system in winter to protect the docks from ice.
Who is paying those ongoing costs?
In essence the Town should avoid getting into the marina business as they really don’t understand the hidden costs and problems.
Marinas have been the downfall of many a hopeful well-financed entrepreneur.
Many people suggested putting the docks in front of the hotel.
What a wonderful idea!
David Eastbury,
Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-July 14, 2010

TRANSIENTS ARE HERE TO STAY

Editor:
With regards to your article “Province evicts campers from French Hill.”
It is probably time that we all pulled our heads out of the sand and tried to make some unified attempt to address the problem.
The word campers in the article should, in all likelihood, be changed to transients or, better yet, hobos.
I remember as a child living in the City of Toronto (when there was a vagrancy law); vagrants or transients were promptly removed from the streets and parks.
Admittedly, a certain percentage of the evictees are legitimate pickers but there is also a large percentage that are in Osoyoos and area for the sunshine and party atmosphere.
The photo in the article showing the transients sprawled out in the sunshine on Gyro Beach is self-explanatory.
I don’t see a cherry tree amongst them (must be their day off?)
Let’s face it, like it or not, transients, pickers and vagrants are here to stay.
As word travels amongst them Osoyoos becomes a five-star resort destination.
Their numbers are increasing yearly.
Unfortunately no one wants them or so it seems… local merchants despise them, the Town of Osoyoos doesn’t want them (or at least not in plain sight), the RCMP shudders and the province evicts them.
Even the orchardists I have talked to generally don’t want them as well; most orchardists allow the reliable repeat pickers, often from previous years, to actually tent amongst their trees in the orchard.
These pickers often start at daybreak and quit mid-afternoon before the heat becomes extreme.
That’s a far cry from the transients I have seen struggling down Strawberry Creek Road at 11 a.m. in the morning seeking the sun at Gyro Beach.
Instead of allowing drag racing at the airport, why doesn’t the Town consider using a portion of the airport each summer as a transient centre?
It could be complete with portable toilets, dumpster for garbage and, heck, even a shower or two.
Let’s face it, they are here to stay, the problem isn’t going away.
Cliff Young,
Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-July 14, 2010

SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THE WORKERS

Editor:
For the past 37 years I have vacationed in Osoyoos during the first two weeks of July.
When I am here there are always three things I can count on: rattlesnake sightings, great fireworks and complaints about the transient fruit pickers.
My question is why, after all these years, has nobody figured out where to put all these workers? Everybody knows when and why they come yet everybody seems shocked and appalled when they turn up sleeping on public beaches or under bridges.
Like the whole town gets amnesia over the winter.
I don’t know, can’t somebody donate some land for them to camp on?
Maybe some private business could sponsor some portable toilets; another could assure running water to the facility or make sure there are large trash bins available for all the garbage.
It can’t be that expensive and it would be great PR for these companies.
Just make believe these people are boat trailers as there seems to be little problem finding places for them to be parked in this town.
Bob Ronaghan,
Calgary

OSOYOOS TIMES-July 14, 2010

HOPEFULLY THE CHANGE OF COUNCIL’S MEETING TIME WILL DO SOME GOOD

Editor:
Osoyoos Town Council considers moving its plenum from evening to daytime.
If that would spur foresight in the Town Hall, and focus on the issues that really matter to society.
It is reasonable to believe anybody in Osoyoos would support the change.
In reflection to the Osoyoos marina hodgepodge, involving four levels of duplicated government bureaucracy.
It is unclear who has the accountability to society and the system breeds patronage driven economic development, usurping social, economic and ecological realities.
Too Many Cooks spoil everyone’s broth!
Is it not time to consider the medieval municipal and government structure and how our local and regional economies are managed?
That of course would require foresight, perhaps daytime plenum could help that in Osoyoos.
Kell Petersen,
Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-July 14, 2010