Public needs information on proposed sewer system
Letter by Anita Voss to the Sooke News Mirror September 17, 2003

Editor:

In several editorials the Sooke News Mirror urges the public to get needed information about the proposed sewer system.

However, this simple demand seems to be running into obstacles. Firstly each household was promised individual information about hook up, costs and so on as early as about 2001. Nothing up to this moment. People are in limbo and worried about their individual costs.

A series of questions were asked by numerous residents in a council meeting dedicated entirely to the sewer question on July 7. Eight were not answered, but answers were promised by September by the mayor. According to Sooke News Sept. 10, these answers are still outstanding. Instead we have now a costly survey, asking questions, so "that council gets a general sense how those in the service area feel."

Council and staff should have a "general sense" and know by now what people want: detailed information about all aspects of the proposed sewer from council to the public and not the other way around. As questions of concerned residents are mostly asked in public meetings information should be relayed in public meetings and not in letters to single persons. Neighbourhood representatives won't do because it just adds another layer of semi-officials to cloud the issues.