As another landowner said – Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!
3 years we have suffered with unqualified staff being paid top dollar and moonlighting. Decisions made by unqualified individual for 3 years – think about that. Plus, let’s not forget the two remaining staff were hired and trained by this guy – and they joined a union for protection.
I didn’t think we could do worse than the staff during the Godfrey, McDowell boards – I was wrong – this admin was the worst ever!
Get real – an announcement that he’s retiring the next day. Bullshit, thanking him for his contribution to the community. This was a well deserved firing, in my opinion, and the last thing anyone should be offering is thanks.
The Loxam, Bitten, Jacques board hired this guy with zero government experience. FFS hire a qualified person until we become a service area and ditch this hillbilly system.
Geez, reality is far removed from the letter from the President of KIP when it was called The Union Bay Community. Spewed bs about “all the heavy lifting”, water treatment plant, sewage treatment plant, blah blah blah. Coal hills would be remediated and sand was going to be barged in from Texada – can you believe it? KIP needs to update the photos to black beaches to be completely honest – ha ha, like that would ever happen.
There is a reason why there is never ever any new improvement districts created. It is not a fair and accountable form of governance. It is outdated.
The Ministry replied to my question as to why UBID wasn’t arranging for electronic meetings during the pandemic.
Received this from Chair Munro. Note the line about 2 consecutive technology failures – the failures are due to incompetence and a lack of interest in keeping up with technology and being trained. We had a professional admin until Feb. 2017, who took pride in their position and could be relied on to answer all enquiries and if he didn’t know the answer, would find out. The position was his first priority – not secondary while performing another job at the same time. Since this new admin was hired, new deputy hired, new computers purchased, new $40,000. billing software, new camera to record meetings but is unable to operate the camera so a guy is hired to turn it on and off. Not to mention the ridiculous wages being paid for 1/5 the service we had. We are being taken to the cleaners.
Bring on the conversion to become a service area of the CVRD – We are being governed by individuals displaying the Dunning Kruger effect.
Why didn’t the UBID Admin follow the news release of May 1, 2020 from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing? There certainly was no hesitation to inform landowners we wouldn’t be allowed in the meetings and lots of excuses why the financials haven’t been released. So they have posted notice of a meeting this week and have had 6 weeks to establish board meetings to be held electronically to ensure landowners are informed. What will the admin use for an excuse this time, “Gee, I never received that news release” or “Gee, I accidentally erased it – not on purpose – I’m an honest person” or “Gee, I didn’t do it, it must have been one of the staff”, or the all time fall back “I’m not arguing with you, let’s just agree to disagree” or “You’re accusing me of doing something I didn’t and I’m going to call the RCMP”.
This board and admin over the last 3 years have done everything possible to prevent landowners from accessing information and are offended when asked questions.
Look at this jumble of empty words from Apr 29, 2020. Same BS different cast.
“However, the ministerial order referenced by Thiessen and Egli was actually rescinded and replaced by a new order on May 1, along with a news release which said that public input is an essential part of decision-making.
As public input is an essential part of land-use decision-making, even for those decisions that do not require a public hearing, local governments are still expected to find ways to encourage public participation,” stated the release.
The Province is continuing to support local governments by allowing them to hold public hearings electronically during the current provincial state of emergency.
“Local governments will be a key partner in our recovery effort,” said Selina Robinson, Minister Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Construction and development activities are expected to be a key part of B.C.’s recovery efforts – and building housing, in particular, affordable housing, will contribute to our goal to provide affordable housing for all British Columbians. Amending this order will allow local governments to continue their work on land-use decision-making and keep building their communities for the people they serve.”
Under the Emergency Program Act, the Province has repealed and replaced Ministerial Order M083 with M139 to expand the authorities given to local governments under M083. The new order will help local governments, improvement districts and the Islands Trust continue to make important decisions for their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, including allowing local governments to hold public hearings electronically.
As public input is an essential part of land-use decision-making, even for those decisions that do not require a public hearing, local governments are still expected to find ways to encourage public participation.
Local governments are required to hold public hearings for some development applications before making a decision. A significant delay in processing development applications could result in cost increases or cancelled projects, and could negatively impact the province’s economic recovery.
Local governments are still expected to find ways to encourage public participation during this time and continue to be as transparent as possible by keeping the public informed on any decisions and procedural changes through their websites and social media.
Each local government will need to determine what electronic method works best for it. At the time of public notice, the local government will be expected to provide information on how people can participate in the hearing. Options local governments may consider include calling in and video conferencing. Local governments will also continue to be required to accept written submissions for public hearings, whether in-person or electronic.
The new order gives the Islands Trust the authority to hold meetings electronically without in-person public participation, allows for bylaws to be read and adopted in a single day and allows the use of electronic options for its public hearings.
In addition, the order authorizes improvement districts to hold trustee board meetings electronically to make financial decisions for their community and allows them to postpone their annual general meetings and elections until COVID-19 is no longer a public health threat.
Should be interesting to hear the new and improved ‘pitch’ to add to all the others since 1996! How much do you think it’s going to cost you to provide sewage to this massive development? Don’t forget there was not a peep from this developer when the South Sewer Project was being proposed.
Now what is the plan for sewage? KIP applied to dump 1875 cubic metres of treated sewage into Washer/Hart Creek daily and yet the CVRD has no say or opinion on this when the proposal specifically states the CVRD would own the system after 2 years.
At the same time the CVRD is proposing a Royston/Union Bay sewage plan indicating they are working with KIP. All the promises from KIP have been withdrawn or reduced – the same is going to happen when it comes to sewer.
What the hell is going on? KIP can’t build one home until there is a sewage system.
Year after year of bullshit – is the MDA actually proceeding?
Will be interesting to see what sewage plan will be presented since the CVRD claims to have nothing to do with the application KIP has made to dump 1875 Cubic metres of treated sewage daily into Washer/Hart Creek even though they would own it after 2 years. Lately we’ve received info from the CVRD planning another go at a sewage system for Royston and Union Bay which would see the sewage go north like the failed South Sewer Project. Talk about the right hand not knowing what the left was doing.
Surveyors at the entrance to the parks and trails yesterday and today. A neighbour asked them what they were doing and was told they were working for KIP.
Here’s where KIP plans on putting their sewage treatment plant. Hmm, isn’t the location of the WWTP in the same area as the proposed new Firehall? This is also the area that KIP had promised multiple times to provide 4 acres for the Firehall and was in the original MDA. The great UBID board decided to allow those 4 acres to be brought up in negotiations for the Water Agreement with KIP in Oct. 2017, and actually negotiated DOWN to 1 hectare because KIP wanted to go back on their word – now we know why.
