More confusion over the intent and meaning of a letter sent to the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) from the District of Sechelt about ensuring a long-term water supply resulted in a decision by the SCRD to hold off sending a response until after the next SCRD board meeting on Feb. 8.
At the Jan. 25 board meeting, Area D director Mark Lebbell said he is ultimately supportive of the letter going forward, but wanted to change the contents of the recommendation that was made at the infrastructure committee because it didn’t accurately capture what he had recommended.
The original letter from Sechelt was first introduced at an SCRD infrastructure committee on Jan. 18. The letter stated that “securing an adequate water supply” is “the top priority of District of Sechelt directors at the SCRD board” and it requested “all reasonable and expeditious measures be taken to secure an expanded water supply on behalf of the District of Sechelt taxpayers and citizens.”
The Sechelt letter created confusion among SCRD committee members, some of whom viewed it as a slight against the SCRD’s Comprehensive Regional Water Plan, including the controversial Chapman Lake expansion project.
Milne, who was not at the committee meeting when the Sechelt letter was discussed, admonished the directors for their conduct. “I was very disappointed in the tone and content of some of the discussion,” he said. “The last thing the community wants to see is politicians bickering.” He said the discussion veered off topic by focusing on Chapman Lake.
Milne asked to look at the recommendation again to ensure it doesn’t “ask the District of Sechelt to tell us whether or not we are doing things in a reasonable [manner]. We don’t want a letter from them telling us that. I think it was a misguided day,” said Milne.
Area B director Gary Nohr said he takes responsibility as chair of the infrastructure committee if Sechelt was offended by the discussion, and remains committed to seeing the water issue resolved. “I think if there’s any letter between Sechelt and SCRD it’s for us to commit to what we’re doing.”
Gibsons director Jeremy Valeriote recommended postponing the letter until a discussion could be held about the SCRD’s Comprehensive Regional Water Plan. The motion was carried.
