Frustration bubbled up at West Kelowna council on May 20, as residents called for greater transparency and accountability in the city香蕉视频直播檚 handling of the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant (RVWTP) finances.

Scott Beaton appeared before council on behalf of users of the plant.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been raising these financial issues to city staff and council for more than six months. Things haven香蕉视频直播檛 changed,香蕉视频直播� Beaton told council. 香蕉视频直播淚f they continue to be mishandled, each member of council risks exposing themselves to personal liability for misuse of funds and could be disqualified from holding office.香蕉视频直播�

He alleges that the city香蕉视频直播檚 financial reporting shows that in both 2023 and 2024, $20 million more was spent than what was budgeted.

香蕉视频直播淏oth times staff said comparisons can香蕉视频直播檛 be made because the budgets don香蕉视频直播檛 contain amortization. But flip the page and look at the financial statements the budgets do contain amortization.香蕉视频直播�

The final budget for the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant totalled $75 million, funded through $41 million in government grants, $10.5 million from city reserves, and $23.5 million in borrowing.

Beaton also claimed that the levy on residents to repay debt for the Rose Valley water project hasn香蕉视频直播檛 been budgeted in any of the next five years. 

香蕉视频直播淪ince these amounts haven香蕉视频直播檛 been approved in the annual financial plan, they would be unauthorized expenditures. The city can香蕉视频直播檛 move forward with the debt until council has properly authorized that spending.香蕉视频直播�

Beaton called for an independent audit of the city香蕉视频直播檚 expenditures on the RVWTP, and the report to be released to the public and that council defer both the levy and the conversion of short-term borrowing to long-term debt until a clearer financial plan is in place.

He also raised concerns about the plant香蕉视频直播檚 performance, and the city香蕉视频直播檚 decision to continue working with the same engineering firm that designed the plant. 

香蕉视频直播淚t didn香蕉视频直播檛 meet the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭he upgrade projects to meet those specifications are still going today.香蕉视频直播� 

Following Beaton香蕉视频直播檚 presentation, council members responded during a staff report on efforts to improve water quality at the Rose Valley Reservoir.

香蕉视频直播淲e might as well address that there are some major allegations here that I香蕉视频直播檓 not comfortable walking away from,香蕉视频直播� Councillor Stephen Johnston said. 香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e asked these questions of staff and there seem to be some conflicting responses or understanding of the information coming back between us and the community.香蕉视频直播�

He noted that the city香蕉视频直播檚 financial statements were recently audited.

香蕉视频直播淭his council has asked hard questions of our auditors and the report comes back clean. I香蕉视频直播檓 left here sitting香蕉视频直播攚hat the heck is going on?香蕉视频直播�

City CAO Ron Bowles responded to the concerns.

香蕉视频直播淭here is truth in fact,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 haven香蕉视频直播檛 seen any submission of any truth or fact in the allegations. Allegations are a different thing and we must rise above them.香蕉视频直播�

Johnston also acknowledged public communication issues around the water levy.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 no excuse for that. There should have been more time given for the payout,香蕉视频直播� he said, asking staff whether an extension could be considered.

Councillor Garrett Millsap also acknowledged Beaton's claims and concerns about the plant香蕉视频直播檚 design.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 been some serious allegations put forward tonight against council and staff. From what I香蕉视频直播檝e seen from the experts and auditors, everything is in line, so let香蕉视频直播檚 have people see that. I香蕉视频直播檇 like to hear from AECOM on the design of the plant and if it met specifications."

He noted that while the plant is operating properly, the quality of the source water from the Rose Valley Reservoir has changed.

Councillor Jason Friesen, who lives on the Rose Valley water system, addressed residents香蕉视频直播� concerns about water quality, the water levy, and communication. 

香蕉视频直播淭he water levy was communicated in 2020, and it changed a little bit,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd we came out of the gate and we messed it up.香蕉视频直播�

Friesen stated that financial negligence allegations, and concerns about water quality are separate issues.

香蕉视频直播淲e can香蕉视频直播檛 be using one to fire up another,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat doesn香蕉视频直播檛 help anybody in the community.香蕉视频直播�

Mayor Milsom echoed council香蕉视频直播檚 concerns. 香蕉视频直播淲e want to make the situation better,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭he key thing is that we continue to talk in a good and respectful way.香蕉视频直播�

As council moved to the next agenda item, some residents expressed frustration about not feeling heard on the matter. 

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e going to carry on,香蕉视频直播� Milsom said. 香蕉视频直播淲e listen, we read, we gather as much information香蕉视频直播攚e hear you.香蕉视频直播�