North Westside residents are being urged to take pen to paper to push for governance changes.
The North Westside Communities Association currently has three petitions circulating that will be presented to the Regional District of Central Okanagan for consideration.
“People are tired that everything (taxes) goes up without any explanation of the reason,” said Bob Andrews, NWCA president.
One of the petitions calls for RDCO to initiate an incorporation study for the North Westside while the other petitions demand a stronger community voice and a review of water options.
About 100 people attended a recent town hall meeting to discuss the relationship with RDCO.
“The vast majority sitting there are unhappy with how money is spent and how our director gets outvoted every time,” said Andrews, adding that he believes it is difficult to obtain information from the regional district.
“People want to know the cost for an employee or the cost of power. They want to know if regional district staff are efficient.”
Wayne Carson, a long-time resident who has been North Westside director since November, isn’t surprised by the petition campaigns.
“People aren’t happy with conditions as they are. They want a voice in their local affairs,” he said.
“It all comes back to governance and authority over tax dollars.”
However, Carson won’t say if he supports municipal incorporation as a feasibility study is required to look at the pros and cons.
“You don’t jump off a cliff. There’s a process to follow,” he said.
RDCO officials attended the town hall meeting hosted by the NWCA.
“If was democracy in action. We heard a lot of concerns and it is good for us to engage directly with residents,” said Brian Reardon, chief administrative officer.
However, Reardon insists RDCO’s two rural directors (the other is Joe Rich/Ellison) have a voice at the board table.
“When you look at the resolutions, especially from January until now, I count 23 resolutions that area directors made or seconded that the board supported,” he said.
Some North Westside residents have suggested that the community should take direct control over the water system because of dissatisfaction with RDCO operations.
However, Reardon says there are few options for that to occur.
“It’s a regional district asset managed on their (residents) behalf. If the community wants direct control over the utility, they would have to incorporate,” he said.
