There were more than 800 residents who signed a petition asking for a referendum on the water meter issue in early 2014. This is our opportunity to see if the new mayor and council are prepared to listen to us.
During the election campaign, Frank Konrad graciously offered an “open door” policy, if elected as mayor. He promised he would give all residents an opportunity to talk to him any time about city-related issues and concerns, and provide input to decisions he and council make on our behalf.
Now would be a good time to ask Mayor Konrad to keep that promise. Let’s see if his door is still open.
Starting on Jan. 26, Mayor Konrad and council will begin considering options with respect to water meters.
Without the fear of retaliation, do express your concerns in writing, and submit them as soon as possible. You may wish to include comments on any of the following questions:
• During the meter installation process, were there any BC plumbing code, BC building code or city bylaw violations?
• Was anything done in some way that was wrong or inappropriate by Neptune or the city?
• Was there any violation of rights, intimidation, threats, wrongful entry, sloppy installation, leaky pipes, misrepresentation, or broken promises?
Anything else you think may be an impropriety, please send a letter or email to the mayor as soon as possible, detailing what happened.
• If a meter was installed against your will, due to the fear of intimidation of fines.
• If you want the meter removed for any reason.
• If a meter was installed against your will, and you do not want it activated.
• If a meter was installed, and due to health risk considerations, you do not want it.
• If you have not had a meter installed, and do not want a meter.
• If a meter was installed by Neptune, without the owner’s knowledge or permission.
You can send a letter in support of a meter.
This is your chance to be heard, to let the new mayor and council know what happened, so they can consider this information going forward in their decision-making process.
If you wish to send an email, address it to the mayor at fkonrad@grandforks.ca.
To send a letter, address it to Mayor Frank Konrad, City Hall, Box 220, Grand Forks, B.C. V0H 1H0, or drop the letter off at the City Hall office, at 7217 4th St., Grand Forks, B.C.
Let me leave you with this parting quote by theologian Reinhold Niebuhr: “Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice, makes democracy necessary.”
Gene Koch, Grand Forks
