Hello Bloggers,
Hard to believe the end of another year is fast approaching. However, the directorship and membership of the BX/Swan Lake Community Association would like to wish everyone "Merry Christmas" and all the best in the upcoming year ahead.
This month a couple that are completely deaf were given a true gift, when their daughter signed the lyrics of her Christmas concert. (She is the young blonde girl in the middle of the picture.) She conveyed the emotion of the lyrics with her facial expressions as well. So the link is below for all to peruse.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQeygYqOn8g
(only 3 minutes and 41 seconds in length.)
Even in the comments the appreciation is shared as one writes:
"They've just showed this video on national Brazilian television, over
150 million people in the country have seen it... Just great !"
Of course the local station had a follow up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6F303aNXec
"I wanted my whole family to understand me." - Claire Koch
Such a great gift (and no line up waiting required.)
Merry Christmas indeed.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Further discussion on Amalgamation
Hello Readers,
The following letter is posted for all to read. It is written by one of the directors of the BX/Swan Lake Community Assoc. and is being posted because it wouldn't be as easy to read in the 'comments' section.
---------------------------------------
ANNEXATION
While searching for information on annexation, I came across a post in the Morning Star written by a former Vernon councillor. The post was about a property owner in the Regional District whose property borders the boundary with the City of Vernon and had made application to the city to be annexed into the city so he could get connected to City Sewer services and hence get relief from problems he was having with a septic field.
The former councillor’s post appears to be in support of this resident and at the same time is taking a swipe at the Regional District. He goes on to say “perhaps annexation would relieve some hardship ie, replacement of a failing septic field by a hookup to Vernon’s sanitary sewer”.
Now let us be clear about what would perhaps provide some relief. If the property owner is indeed having some septic field problems, getting hooked up to Vernon’s sewer services may well provide some relief, although it certainly will not be accomplished without considerable cost to the property owner. You will notice that the possible relief would come from being hooked up to the sewer service, and certainly not from the “annexation” into the City. This so-called “relief” as a result annexation would come in the form of a 20 to 30% tax increase to the property owner in all likelihood. Don’t you just love that kind of relief?
The writer goes on to say that the City realizes “Piece meal annexations do create planning issues and that is why Vernon bundles such applications to be submitted annually to the province. To some measure it makes the problem more manageable. These requests are to join Vernon, not leave it”
Now let us be clear about this last point too. The writer may or may not be aware that the City has no mechanism by which a property may be extricated from within the municipality. That would explain why there are no formal requests to leave Vernon . . . . You can’t get your property out of the City’s confines once you are legally part of it. I found this out when a number of unhappy property owners just east of Tekmar on Silver Star Road had been annexed into the city of Vernon kicking and squealing as they were dragged into the city by the annexation process, which was apparently being driven by a Realtor/Developer, which is usually the case. They wanted to appear as a Delegation to Vernon City Council to get their property out of the city and back into the Regional District, and were told “There is no formal process in which Vernon Council can consider your request”. So, all these property owners got for their annexation relief was a 20 to 30% annual increase in taxes, and a quarterly sewer charge even though they were not hooked up to the sewer service. But they could pay several thousand dollars to get hooked up to the service if they wished to. I wonder if they are experiencing this wonderful feeling of relief.
So when someone says Vernon gets few requests to have property removed from that Municipality, you now know why. There is no mechanism by which they are able to present their wish to City Council.
If the writer thinks everyone is happy being inside the City of Vernon, give the residents of former Electoral Area A (The Landing) a choice and watch the exodus.
The writer points with the finger of blame at the Regional District for the continuing plight of the property owner with the sewer problems. I think if we look at the policy of the City of Vernon whereby if you want sewer services, you must join the city, we may find a key to resolution. Why not provide the sewer service at a cost to the property owner, for which they will have to pay anyway, leave the property in the Regional District and everyone should be reasonably happy.
This either/or attitude regarding sewer services seems unfair, punitive and certainly divisive, and the sewer issue seems to be the beginning of the larger problem, that being annexation. Neither of these matters are based on fairness. The City of Vernon has enough land within their boundary for 25 years of development. Why do they need more?
Surely some common ground can be found here. The “policy” is where the blame should be placed.
Ray Ivey
BX resident.
---------------------------------------
As usual, readers are invited to leave their comments/thoughts in the comment section below.
The following letter is posted for all to read. It is written by one of the directors of the BX/Swan Lake Community Assoc. and is being posted because it wouldn't be as easy to read in the 'comments' section.
---------------------------------------
ANNEXATION
While searching for information on annexation, I came across a post in the Morning Star written by a former Vernon councillor. The post was about a property owner in the Regional District whose property borders the boundary with the City of Vernon and had made application to the city to be annexed into the city so he could get connected to City Sewer services and hence get relief from problems he was having with a septic field.
The former councillor’s post appears to be in support of this resident and at the same time is taking a swipe at the Regional District. He goes on to say “perhaps annexation would relieve some hardship ie, replacement of a failing septic field by a hookup to Vernon’s sanitary sewer”.
Now let us be clear about what would perhaps provide some relief. If the property owner is indeed having some septic field problems, getting hooked up to Vernon’s sewer services may well provide some relief, although it certainly will not be accomplished without considerable cost to the property owner. You will notice that the possible relief would come from being hooked up to the sewer service, and certainly not from the “annexation” into the City. This so-called “relief” as a result annexation would come in the form of a 20 to 30% tax increase to the property owner in all likelihood. Don’t you just love that kind of relief?
The writer goes on to say that the City realizes “Piece meal annexations do create planning issues and that is why Vernon bundles such applications to be submitted annually to the province. To some measure it makes the problem more manageable. These requests are to join Vernon, not leave it”
Now let us be clear about this last point too. The writer may or may not be aware that the City has no mechanism by which a property may be extricated from within the municipality. That would explain why there are no formal requests to leave Vernon . . . . You can’t get your property out of the City’s confines once you are legally part of it. I found this out when a number of unhappy property owners just east of Tekmar on Silver Star Road had been annexed into the city of Vernon kicking and squealing as they were dragged into the city by the annexation process, which was apparently being driven by a Realtor/Developer, which is usually the case. They wanted to appear as a Delegation to Vernon City Council to get their property out of the city and back into the Regional District, and were told “There is no formal process in which Vernon Council can consider your request”. So, all these property owners got for their annexation relief was a 20 to 30% annual increase in taxes, and a quarterly sewer charge even though they were not hooked up to the sewer service. But they could pay several thousand dollars to get hooked up to the service if they wished to. I wonder if they are experiencing this wonderful feeling of relief.
So when someone says Vernon gets few requests to have property removed from that Municipality, you now know why. There is no mechanism by which they are able to present their wish to City Council.
If the writer thinks everyone is happy being inside the City of Vernon, give the residents of former Electoral Area A (The Landing) a choice and watch the exodus.
The writer points with the finger of blame at the Regional District for the continuing plight of the property owner with the sewer problems. I think if we look at the policy of the City of Vernon whereby if you want sewer services, you must join the city, we may find a key to resolution. Why not provide the sewer service at a cost to the property owner, for which they will have to pay anyway, leave the property in the Regional District and everyone should be reasonably happy.
This either/or attitude regarding sewer services seems unfair, punitive and certainly divisive, and the sewer issue seems to be the beginning of the larger problem, that being annexation. Neither of these matters are based on fairness. The City of Vernon has enough land within their boundary for 25 years of development. Why do they need more?
Surely some common ground can be found here. The “policy” is where the blame should be placed.
Ray Ivey
BX resident.
---------------------------------------
As usual, readers are invited to leave their comments/thoughts in the comment section below.
Saturday, December 7, 2013
Public Letter Requirement
Greetings Bloggers,
In the post before last there was the petition Re: BX Gravel Pit. Now, more than just a petition signature is required. As the following text states...
--------------------
We had previously told you about our battle against the Gravel pit in our neighbourhood.
We would like to thank everyone who signed our petition!!
To date we have collected more than 1100 signatures on our petition. Now we need your help again please.
The Gravel pit owner, Klayton Mertion has sent a ‘Notice of Work’ application to the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) submission date Nov 11, 2013. Klayton then placed a ‘Notice of Proposed Sand and Gravel’ in the Morning Star Nov 22, 2013 stating that the community had 30 days to get letters of concern to MEM. The notice was published in the Morning Star Nov 22 and 24 2013 in the Classified Section on the 2nd to last page under “Legal Notices”.
The full proposal is available to anyone at the Vernon Library, upstairs from the reference desk. They will make you a photocopy of the entire proposal for your own use. MEM has just confirmed that the deadline date for these letters is Dec 24th.
We are quite concerned that we get enough letters sent. We would appreciate it if you would send a letter to the email address below and also encourage all your friends & neighbours to as well. Each person can put their own spin on it but it is important that they get multiple letters. We are also sending our whole brief to MEM with copies of all 1100 + signatures on the petition.
Please also be aware that there will VERY LIKELY be a community public meeting in the near future, with Klayton and someone from the Ministry of Energy and Mines present. We will let you know the minute we know of the date for this meeting so that all interested will come out to voice their concerns and opposition to this Gravel Pit.
The email address to send your letter is:
mmd-kamloops@gov.bc.ca
Please refer to the Klayton Mertion - MSG Pit application
aka BX Creek Pit of Klayton Mertion, 5801 Brentwood Road, Vernon BC
or a letter by post mail:
Chief Inspector of Mines,
Ministry of Energy and Mines South Central Region,
2nd Floor, 441 Columbia Street,
Kamloops, B.C.
V2C 2T3
Any letters will be effective, they don’t have to be complicated or eloquent, but honest and sincere.
Just be sure to clearly state that you don’t want the Mertion gravel pit in the most inappropriate location, the BX Ravine beside the BX Creek and ask them to deny him a permit.
Appreciatively,
Elaine Vanderwal
5674 Brentwood Rd Vernon BC
250-545-3536
tevanderwal@telus.net
--------------------
So please write and send your own letters containing your concerns, comments and thoughts on this proposed development. Re: Mailing of letters, please do so as soon as possible to avoid any mail delays due to the increased volume near Christmas. The email option is most likely faster but less formal.
The deadline for letters to the Ministry of Energy and Mines is DEC. 24th, 2013.
Any assistance (in letter format) will be greatly appreciated.
----------------------------------------
As noted from our earlier post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPmElng5uUk&feature=youtu.be
Resident generated video
http://www2.worksafebc.com/i/construction/Toolbox/pdfs/TG07-42_dangers_silica_dust.pdf
http://www2.worksafebc.com/i/posters/pdfs/2009/ws_09_04.pdf
Dangers of crystalline silica produced in the gravel industry.
http:/www.tourismvernon.com/index.php/activities/hiking
Vernon Tourism "Top 10 Hiking Trails" (pit site is near #1.)
In the post before last there was the petition Re: BX Gravel Pit. Now, more than just a petition signature is required. As the following text states...
--------------------
We had previously told you about our battle against the Gravel pit in our neighbourhood.
We would like to thank everyone who signed our petition!!
To date we have collected more than 1100 signatures on our petition. Now we need your help again please.
The Gravel pit owner, Klayton Mertion has sent a ‘Notice of Work’ application to the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) submission date Nov 11, 2013. Klayton then placed a ‘Notice of Proposed Sand and Gravel’ in the Morning Star Nov 22, 2013 stating that the community had 30 days to get letters of concern to MEM. The notice was published in the Morning Star Nov 22 and 24 2013 in the Classified Section on the 2nd to last page under “Legal Notices”.
The full proposal is available to anyone at the Vernon Library, upstairs from the reference desk. They will make you a photocopy of the entire proposal for your own use. MEM has just confirmed that the deadline date for these letters is Dec 24th.
We are quite concerned that we get enough letters sent. We would appreciate it if you would send a letter to the email address below and also encourage all your friends & neighbours to as well. Each person can put their own spin on it but it is important that they get multiple letters. We are also sending our whole brief to MEM with copies of all 1100 + signatures on the petition.
Please also be aware that there will VERY LIKELY be a community public meeting in the near future, with Klayton and someone from the Ministry of Energy and Mines present. We will let you know the minute we know of the date for this meeting so that all interested will come out to voice their concerns and opposition to this Gravel Pit.
The email address to send your letter is:
mmd-kamloops@gov.bc.ca
Please refer to the Klayton Mertion - MSG Pit application
aka BX Creek Pit of Klayton Mertion, 5801 Brentwood Road, Vernon BC
or a letter by post mail:
Chief Inspector of Mines,
Ministry of Energy and Mines South Central Region,
2nd Floor, 441 Columbia Street,
Kamloops, B.C.
V2C 2T3
Any letters will be effective, they don’t have to be complicated or eloquent, but honest and sincere.
Just be sure to clearly state that you don’t want the Mertion gravel pit in the most inappropriate location, the BX Ravine beside the BX Creek and ask them to deny him a permit.
Appreciatively,
Elaine Vanderwal
5674 Brentwood Rd Vernon BC
250-545-3536
tevanderwal@telus.net
--------------------
So please write and send your own letters containing your concerns, comments and thoughts on this proposed development. Re: Mailing of letters, please do so as soon as possible to avoid any mail delays due to the increased volume near Christmas. The email option is most likely faster but less formal.
The deadline for letters to the Ministry of Energy and Mines is DEC. 24th, 2013.
Any assistance (in letter format) will be greatly appreciated.
----------------------------------------
As noted from our earlier post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPmElng5uUk&feature=youtu.be
Resident generated video
http://www2.worksafebc.com/i/construction/Toolbox/pdfs/TG07-42_dangers_silica_dust.pdf
http://www2.worksafebc.com/i/posters/pdfs/2009/ws_09_04.pdf
Dangers of crystalline silica produced in the gravel industry.
http:/www.tourismvernon.com/index.php/activities/hiking
Vernon Tourism "Top 10 Hiking Trails" (pit site is near #1.)
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