Dear editor,
It seems the Coal Harbour Local Community Commission has a concern about water usage in Coal Harbour. Instead of asking the question "How can we make water use and billing more equitable, so those who use more pay more?", the Regional Director for area C drew up a list of people who according to him are not paying their fair share. Discussing the people on this list at a public LCC meeting on February 9th 2011.
Everyone on this list has paid their official water/sewer/garbage bill issued by the Regional District of Mt Waddington and this is all they are required to pay. If, for some reason they do not pay their bill, that bill will be added to their property tax for the following year.
"Every one to pay their FAIR share" was the answer I heard at the table at Wednesday’s 9th of March meeting. "Fair" being the operative word. Fair works both ways. Publishing business names, addresses, phone numbers, and names of individuals who you just think should be paying a bigger bill for water, implying individuals on the list are avoiding or trying to avoid paying their bills, is hardly the way to accomplish cooperation and positive change.
Discussing at a public meeting a vigilante hit list that suggests people on the list owe money, when in fact they officially do not, is the very antithesis of fair. Instead of behaving like dictators, I suggest the LCC hold public meetings, engage all community members in their discussions about water, consider their ideas and opinions, then move on from there. That would be fair.
Ann Hory
Coal Harbour