In the Western News’ “The city’s forgotten page” on May 2, JoAnne Kleb, Penticton’s engagement officer, says she finds the letters to the editor a little on the harsh side and doesn’t wish to sink to that level. I would remind JoAnne and Penticton taxpayers that JoAnne resided in Okanagan Falls when she applied for her job with the city. So she is hardly likely to be sympathetic or identify with the overburdened taxpayers of Penticton.
The $400-million infrastructure deficit doesn’t rest on her back, does it?
There are too many civil servants at city hall that come to town for the gravy then sneak off home to one of the satellite communities where they are free, tax-wise, from the sometimes costly decisions or recommendations they make that affect the lives of the ordinary taxpayers of Penticton.
Peter Weeber made a wise decision when he took over the CAO’s job at city hall. He decided to live and pay taxes where he worked. Thank you for that Peter.
Too many highly paid civil servants in Penticton have decided otherwise.
I would suggest that every civil servant that works in Penticton and lives outside this community do some serious thinking. Then phone their regional director or the mayor of their community and ask them to get involved in contributing financially to the services that the people that live in their communities use in Penticton. This can be done through the regional district level.
It is past time that this issue was addressed. Council after council has failed to find a solution to this problem. The new incoming council elected this October should make it plain that the regional district has to address this issue or Penticton will be making an application to remove itself from the regional district and the 40 per cent of the budget that it puts into its coffers.
Elvena Slump
Penticton
