Taxpayers need timely answers on proposed sewer system
By Glen Dickie to Sooke News Mirror September 24, 2003

Editor:

I am relieved to read that other taxpayers (Sooke News Mirror, Sept. 17) are also concerned about the lack of response to questions by taxpayers about the proposed sewer.

Municipal staff requested (which our council has endorsed) a specific sewer related meeting to hear taxpayers' concerns. In fact, I now fear the "benefits of a sewer outfall" propaganda will only heat up again.

Remember, there is a lot of experience to this process of manipulating communities into having sewers. There are huge dollars to be made and money can dictate if we are caught snoozing.

Unfortunately, our council hasn't responded by providing the answers to these justified questions. Why proceed any further without the answers? Is it because they don't like the questions and concerns which council itself solicited?

I am not against having sewers. What I don't agree with is the apparent open disregard of answering taxpayers' questions in a timely manner. Council has a responsibility to ensure this process is transparent, even if it is not popular with municipal staff, some fellow councillors or Sooke's business community. Is an outfall the best choice? Should a small number of residential taxpayers be footing the bill for something that is being "sold" as a benefit to all of Sooke? Why doesn't all of Sooke pay for it then?

Just because Mayor Evans has offered so-called "payment options": does it make it right that residents with a good septic system be forced to pay for something they do not need? Should many of these residents who cannot afford all the costs involved (existing septic system disconnection fees, hook-up fees in the thousands of dollars, tax increases of $600 per year, maintenance fees and higher density development in their residential neighbourhoods) be subjected to "forced" hook-ups? What will happen to residents when they must sell their homes due to these costs? I have spoken to Realtors who say sewers will not increase the value of a residential home. Dollars and sense, my family cannot afford the associated costs, plain and simple. What will happen to us?

Apathy is a dangerous symptom of a confused an uninformed community. Ask your community for immediate answers to taxpayer questions and make the answers public. Many of us have the same questions and a public disclosure would serve all affected.