Skip to content

LETTERS: Getting tired of lawsuits and axe grinding

Despite the destruction left in its wake, Penticton City Council pursues its Open for Business mantra.

Despite the destruction left in its wake, Penticton City Council pursues its Open for Business mantra.

Yet, strangely a business attitude was lacking when city hall issued its ultimatum to the Lakeside Resort.

An electrical meter was faulty for five years and the city did nothing? Who is in charge of the obviously inept electrical department? Who was the controller overseeing this file? Why did the previous CAO let this account slide? Heads need to roll when over a half a million tax dollars is at the bottom of the city’s priority list. This is another two per cent increase in property taxes.

The Lakeside averages over $40,000 a month in electrical fees. They have spent millions implementing green initiatives to reduce power consumption. A smaller bill is a reasonable expectation.

When the city sends me an electric bill I assume they know what they are doing. Like the Lakeside I have gone green reducing my monthly bills; as rates climbed my costs went down. Should I assume that my decrease was not the result of my green expenditures but the result of a faulty meter? How could I be expected to know or budget for that? Can I expect an ultimatum from the city in five years time saying pay up or else?

The most important unanswered question is why has the city not quietly negotiated a behind-the-scenes settlement? Business has a right to expect an amicable business climate. How many local businesses do you know could survive an unexpected $631,000 ultimatum? Treating a philanthropic business in this shoddy manner is not conducive to encouraging new business relocation.

It is not sufficient to talk the talk. You have to walk it. Business expansion is about more than 10-year plans giving away our tax dollars: It is about attitude; creating a business friendly environment that encourages business to thrive, relocate and bring jobs to our area.

City hall needs to cultivate a modicum of common sense and self-restraint. Are they lawsuit-happy? Or, grinding axes and settling scores on the taxpayer’s dime? Perhaps they get a discount for multiple lawsuits.

The Bad News Crew at city hall is on a swift race to the bottom. I suggest council bury their hatchets and do the job they were elected to do. Act in a civilized manner instead of the swaggering about like the biggest bully on the block. People are getting tired of it.

Elvena Slump

Penticton