SUMMERLAND REVIEW THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1908
VOLUME 66 - ISSUE
WHAT’S INSIDE:
WWW.SUMMERLANDREVIEW.COM
Spending criticized NO. 46 • S U M M E R L A N D, B.C. • T H U R S D AY,
NOVEMBER
14,
2013
•
20
PA G E S
•
$1.15
INCLUDING
GST
Study gives low grades to municipal government by John Arendt
Honouring service
Summerlanders paid tribute to those who served in military action at the Remembrance Day service on Monday.
Page 11
Flu vaccines
Influenza vaccines are being offered as flu season approaches.
Page 3
Rotary projects
The Summerland Rotary Club is considering a number of local initiatives.
Page 6
Bullying campaign
An anti-bully campaign will include numerous events and activities.
Page 9
Hockey action
The Summerland Steam Junior B hockey team enjoyed a winning weekend.
Page 16
YOUR SMILE When I was in school, History class was called Current Affairs.
A time to remember
John Arendt Summerland Review
Mike Brazeau, left, sergeant at arms for the Summerland Legion, and Barry Newcombe, president of the Summerland Legion, pause during the Remembrance Day ceremony on Monday.
Summerland received low marks for its municipal spending according to a provincial report compiled by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. The report examined 153 municipalities in British Columbia and placed Summerland 20th from the bottom in terms of its spending practices. The report examined whether a community was able to keep spending increases at or below the rate of inflation. In recent years, Summerland has taken on some large initiatives including road improvements, the construction of a new police station and water system upgrades. Mayor Janice Perrino said tax increases have been kept modest despite these projects. In her first term as mayor, from 2008 to 2011, taxes rose by five per cent. Since 2011, taxes have risen four per cent. Increases were much higher in the 2005 to 2008 council term. She added that the costs involved in operating a municipality are increasing each year, in part because of the union pay rates. “We’ve had virtually no growth, but we’re still subject to increases,”she said. A third-party report on spending, compiled for Summerland by the Helios Group in 2011, showed Summerland’s spending was reasonable, she said. A 19–page summary of the key findings of the report can be found on the municipality’s website. Because the municipality has taken on large projects in the past few years, Perrino said the focus this year is on rebuilding the reserve funds. “You want your reserves to be able to handle emergencies,” she said. “Our tax increases are not nearly enough to cover our reserves being refilled.” The next major projects for the community are road and water upgrades in the Garnett Valley area, road improvements on a portion of Giant’s Head Road and a sidewalk extension on Prairie Valley Road. The tax burden could be alleviated if Summerland were to draw more businesses, Perrino said. “We have to do more to get growth,” she said.
Preparation urged for winter driving Motorists who have not done so already should get their vehicles ready for the winter driving season, police say. Cpl. Bruce Haley of the Summerland RCMP detachment said all-season tires will work for driving within the region, but not
for highway driving. Haley said winter tires or chains are required for mountain passes at this time of the year. Motorists also need to let their vehicles warm properly in the winter, so the windshield and windows are clear.
Quickly scraping the windshield in front of the driver is not sufficient, he added. “Give yourself time to warm up your vehicle so your windshield is clear,” he said. During snowy, icy or slippery conditions, drivers need to slow down for
the road conditions, Haley added. “The limit is the maximum, under the best road conditions,” he said. Motorists can receive a ticket for driving too fast for road conditions, even if they are travelling well below the posted limit. “People have to adjust
their driving to the weather,” Haley said. “Don’t rush when the roads are slippery or icy.” He added that the first snowy day of the winter tends to be the worst for accidents as drivers suddenly adjust to the change in road conditions.