A presentation by Shuswap MLA David Williams sparked a fiery reaction at the July 17 Columbia Shuswap Regional District Board meeting.
The first issue Williams addressed was the length of time some developers in the regional district are waiting for permits in order to proceed with their plans.
香蕉视频直播淚 have multiple developers, who want to develop projects and have been waiting a long time,香蕉视频直播� he said, referring to a possible downturn in the economy and need to retain people by making sure jobs are available. 香蕉视频直播淚f there香蕉视频直播檚 obstacles to getting permitting and if it香蕉视频直播檚 a provincial issue, we want to know about it.香蕉视频直播�
Williams pointed to a 2024 proposal for a 150-site campground at 3650 Eagle Bay Rd. and asked how many directors visited and walked the property.
香蕉视频直播淲hy is that?香蕉视频直播� he asked when no-one responded.
香蕉视频直播淗e doesn香蕉视频直播檛 seem to understand how that works,香蕉视频直播� remarked Area C director Marty Gibbons, who agreed to hold further comments until the end of Williams香蕉视频直播� presentation.
香蕉视频直播淲hat is the issue? I香蕉视频直播檝e seen the scaled down versions, I have walked the property and seen all the assessments,香蕉视频直播� Williams said. 香蕉视频直播淚 am concerned that it is being arbitrarily turned down.香蕉视频直播�
Next on Williams香蕉视频直播� list was the ongoing issue of the composting operation at Spa Hills.
香蕉视频直播淵ou probably could use a little intervention by me, because I think the provincial government should be assisting a little bit,香蕉视频直播� he sad noting the Ministry of Environment had done an inspection but did not lend a lot of support. 香蕉视频直播淚t would be nice if he (owner Josh Mitchell) could get some grant funding which could be available from the provincial government香蕉视频直播� I believe it香蕉视频直播檚 better to work with him.香蕉视频直播�
The last of Williams香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播渕ajor concerns香蕉视频直播� is Newsome Creek where residents have dealt with continuing erosion below their properties for several years.
香蕉视频直播淚 plan to hit all these things hard starting in August because the only time they (the province) act is when they get shamed,香蕉视频直播� he said of returning to the legislature. 香蕉视频直播淏ut but I don香蕉视频直播檛 want to go ahead if you guys have plans to do something.香蕉视频直播�
A visibly angry Gibbons told Williams that he is well connected to his constituents and easy to access, unlike the MLA.
香蕉视频直播淚 am what I refer to as boots on the ground; we are the most easiest and most accessible line of government and our constituents find us,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e are accountable to them financially every year when we do our budget, and we do not borrow money, we go get it.香蕉视频直播�
Gibbons pointed out that he attended a public meeting where both he and the developer heard residents香蕉视频直播� concerns very clearly. The developer, he said, waited six months before taking their application back to the board for second reading with precisely the same plan that Area C constituents had opposed, and without changes other than empty promises.
香蕉视频直播淪o it is insulting to sit here after we have talked to people, we have done process, we have done debate and our planning department has been there,香蕉视频直播� he said, temper flaring. 香蕉视频直播淎nd to our MLA, I will be very clear 香蕉视频直播� I do not work for developers, I work for constituents. I do not go and tour developers香蕉视频直播� properties because that is not my job. I don香蕉视频直播檛 work for planning, in fact, I would argue that you are in conflict now that you have personally gone to this site.香蕉视频直播�
At this point, Revelstoke Mayor Gary Solz called point of order, noting he understands Gibbons香蕉视频直播� passion but asking him to calm down.
In a much calmer tone of voice, Gibbons said that the board has done their due diligence, has diligently served constituents, had hearings, used factual information and made decisions as a board, as they should. 香蕉视频直播淎nd now, to be questioned like this is frustrating, and I apologize to speaker and board.香蕉视频直播�
Reiterating the need for a calmer approach, board chair Natalya Menychuk advised Williams that in terms of the board approach to development plans, directors generally do not interact directly with developers.
香蕉视频直播淲e need to be mindful that we are not coming into conflict of interest,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淲e need to look at each application on its own merit and look to staff for their thorough review of applications as well.香蕉视频直播�
Salmon Arm director and CSRD deputy board chair Kevin Flynn said he agreed with Gibbons香蕉视频直播� position but would try to remain calm.
He said that at the Salmon Arm council table, councillors had been clearly instructed that they should rarely, if ever, go on site visits with a proponent due to legalities, conflict of interest and bias.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 significant reasons not to do it and I am a little frustrated that our presenter admonished us on three issues that, if his team had done some research, they would know what we have done on all the issues,香蕉视频直播� said Flynn. 香蕉视频直播淭o come here and speak holier than thou down to our board, that香蕉视频直播檚 disrespectful.香蕉视频直播�
Flynn noted that significant work by staff and directors had been undertaken on the Newsome Creek issue, as well as five or six years on Spa Hills. He told Williams that to approach the board with one viewpoint without knowing the facts was somewhat of an embarrassment.
Next at bat was Area D director Dean Trumbley, whose residents are impacted daily by the Spa Hills operation in his electoral area. He noted that speaking strictly to one proponent is not the proper way of dealing with the issues and, nor does it provide a thorough understanding of the multi jurisdictional issues involved.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not about pushing the province to simply to provide funding to help the Spa Hills area; it香蕉视频直播檚 also to look at the regulatory regime in place to right now around actually putting in proper regulations at the provincial level for these types of facilities,香蕉视频直播� he said.
He advised Williams that his job as director is not to look at it from the aspect of how can the Spa Hills operation work, but also to look at the hundreds of people in that Yankee Flats area who are negatively impacted by the compost facility because it香蕉视频直播檚 not regulated well enough. He stated his concern that when many Area D residents hear that Spa Hills was discussed at the board meeting, they would tune into that portion of the recording.
香蕉视频直播淚 want to make sure in this conversation, that as area director, I do understand the many negative impacts that have happened to the community in this area as the result of the Spa Hills operation,香蕉视频直播� he said, pointing out residents are unable to sell their homes, receive visitors or even leave their homes on some days. 香蕉视频直播淪o I am not interested right now in picking a side in that argument; what I am more interested in looking at is forcing the provincial government to look at Spa Hills type facilities, putting in appropriate regulations, including looking at things like smells or odours as being part of that regulatory regime, as opposed to looking at it just the health impact components of it.香蕉视频直播�
Melnychuk ended director input by saying she was happy to report that the Ministry of Transportation and Transit is moving forward with a project to replace the culvert and address the erosion of 香蕉视频直播渢he upper portion of the lower portion of Newsome Creek香蕉视频直播� and has subsequently been working with staff to get grants for the lower portion of the lower creek are.
While the project will not spread all the way up to private properties, Melnychuk said the Ministry of Transportation and Transit香蕉视频直播檚 project will significantly reduce the risk as it goes forward.
香蕉视频直播淚 have put in request for a minister meeting at UBCM to make sure it continues to be a collaborative effort as there are multiple pieces and multiple agencies involved,香蕉视频直播� she said, adding she was very aware of the long time properties and homes have been threatened. 香蕉视频直播淚 am hopeful we香蕉视频直播檒l see boots on the ground or excavators in the stream as permits move through the province.香蕉视频直播�
Given the opportunity to have the last word, Williams described himself as being totally neutral on all issues and apologized for not understanding CSRD香蕉视频直播檚 planning process.
香蕉视频直播淢y job is to advocate on behalf of the people who actually reside here, that includes developers who want to do work here, but also includes citizens who live here, and there is a balance,香蕉视频直播� he said, noting he appeared before the board to get facts, has made no commitments to anybody but wants assurance that the system is fair and transparent and best for the community at large.
Again referring to the provincial government, Williams said 香蕉视频直播� the only time they move is when they are pushed, and I have the capability of pushing them.香蕉视频直播�
