News

 A resolution calling for a reconsideration of the decision to build the wastewater plant at the Ebbtide site was passed at a well attended public forum 'Sechelt: Wastewater or Waste Money?'  at the Sechelt Seniors Activity Centre on May 29. The Forum was jointly sponsored by the Sunshine Coast Senior Citizens (COSCO-BC) and the Sechelt Sewage Coalition (SSC).

 

About 180 people were in attendance at the height of the meeting with approximately 160 remaining at the time of the vote.  Not too bad a turn out considering we were competing with both the on-the-ground local election campaign and last night's only televised Leaders' Debate. 

 

Councillors Alice Lutes and Mike Shanks were both in attendance at the Forum and their courage and commitment to democratic process was expressed by all assembled with a hearty round of applause. Neither the Mayor or the other FABS Councillors attended.

 

The resolution will be presented to the District of Sechelt Council Meeting on Wednesday, May 1st from 7 - 9 pm.  

 

At the outset of our public meeting we were handed a copy of the signed contract with Maple Reinders/Veolia bearing Mayor Henderson's signature. This came about as a result of Mayor Henderson convening an in-camera Special Meeting of Sechelt Council, called on 24 hours notice, held at 1:30 pm on Friday, April 26th to do the deed in advance our last night's public forum.  The Mayor apparently doesn't like public feedback. 

 

The price, with taxes, is now $23.85 million. So with the addition of the costs to move  the works yard to Lot L, at $2.5 million, we are now looking at a tab of $26.35 million as a result of the new Ebbtide wastewater treatment plant.  Keep in mind that the chosen 'solution' entails maintaining Upper Dusty Road to handle bio-solids and septage on leased land with about 16 years remaining on the lease.  That means additional ongoing costs to maintain Upper Dusty Road and an eventual relocation of that facility with the attendant additional costs in the not too distant future, to release the Upper Dusty Road site for sand and gravel mining. 

 

At this time we do not know what the ongoing operational costs will be to operate the Ebbtide facility once it is in operation.

 

While we don't have the full schedule of Sewer User Fees for all categories of properties, to compare 2012 with the soon to be increased rates, we do know that Sechelt Council is set to approve an increase for single family homes from $210 in 2012 to $379 at Wednesday's Council meeting.  That's an 80% increase for that category, and it likely won't be the last. 

 

 All of us on the Upper and Lower Sunshine Coast should expect to see substantially higher septage disposal fees in the future. You will likely be told that Council didn't raise 'property taxes' significantly, and technically, that might well be correct. But I don't know about you, when I write a cheque for our annual District payments, I'm more concerned with the total of what I have to pay.  I'm interested in but less concerned about the sub-categories that comprise that total payment. 

 

 No one should begrudge paying their fair share of taxes, they are after all, as Oliver Wendell Holmes observed, 'the price of civilization'.  But let's not have bafflegab and obfuscation. A tax is a tax is a tax and I have but one wallet to pick.

 

Copies of a note from Jim Cleghorn, with the Royal Bank, past President of the Sechelt Chamber of Commerce and past supporter of FABS were distributed at the meeting.  Jim is the Chair of the Sunshine Coast Economic Development Task Force. Copies.  His remarks were directed to the Task Force members in light of the District of Sechelt's declining to participate in a Coast-wide economic development process, preferring to go it alone, and contain his recommendation to fold up the work of the Task Force as a result.  His comments, 'SC Regional Economic Development Update' are worth reading in their entirety, but I highlight one paragraph to whet your appetite to read more:

The District's real financial situation doesn't seem to phase the majority of Council when it comes to spending, whether that be on law suits, pet paving projects, golf courses, top drawer wastewater plants or one way streets that few seem to want and all responsible authorities advise against.  These days, it seems, the operative motto of Sechelt's Council is 'it's my way or the highway' depending on which way your headed on Cowrie, of course!

 

We are in for interesting times between now and the next municipal election and it behoves us all to ensure our collective memories of what has happened and will transpire through the remainder of this council's tenure remain in sharp focus come municipal election day!

 

The Sechelt Sewage Coalition is pursuing potential legal avenues to redress at least some of the conduct that has led us into this sorry state.  We will report more as more is known.  In the meantime, stay on top of the issues and come out and show your support for democracy and social progress when and where you are able.