Editor’s note: an abridged version of this letter appeared in the Jan. 25 edition of the Merritt Herald.

Editor,

 

I see the City of Merritt is considering installing side walks in Collettville. The projected cost of this project is $9,000,000 and it is proposed that the costs of this project be paid for exclusively by the property owners in Collettville. The project would include installing curbs, gutters, sidewalks and storm drainage on all streets and avenues and filling in the existing ditches.

Chief Administrative Officer Shawn Boven is quoted as stating “It’s kind of a fundamental principal of communities and local government that users that benefit from a service are the ones that pay for it”

The article then goes on to state that the other major project being considered for 2018 is roadwork in the Cranna Crescent cul-de-sac for $2,000,000. That project would also involve replacing sewer and water lines and installing curbs, gutters and sidewalks. There is no talk of only Cranna Crescent residents paying for those improvements so that is a cost that would be shared by all the taxpayers of Merritt including Collettville taxpayers. Shawn Boven is quoted as stating “We’ll have a meeting with residents to see if it is something they are even interested in”

Why is the Collettville project being treated differently than the Cranna Crescent project? The residents of Collettville are not benefitting from work on Cranna Crescent yet we will be expected to help pay for that project through taxes to the city. A meeting is proposed with the residents of Cranna Crescent to see if they are interested in the project yet I see nothing about a meeting with Collettville residents.

Since amalgamating with Merritt, Collettville property owners have been taxed to help pay for numerous projects throughout the city and most of these projects have been of no benefit to us. This includes recent paving of Juniper Drive, installation of new water systems with new sidewalks and paving on Coldwater Avenue, installation of water and sewer with a road upgrade to the airport, gasoline alley upgrades, the construction of the lacrosse box and the list goes on. Why are we being singled out and being expected to pay for improvements in Collettville with no help from the rest of the city when we have helped pay for projects throughout the city?

I always thought that one of the principles of forming a local government was to provide a larger tax base to cover the costs of projects that a smaller tax base could not afford. If I recall correctly, that was one of the reasons given to encourage Collettville residents when they voted on whether or not to join Merritt. At the time of amalgamation we were required to pay for installation of sewer and water and voted to join Merritt knowing full well we would bear those costs for the next 20 years. We were not told, nor did we agree to also pay for storm sewer, curbs, gutters and sidewalks.

As to the proposed sidewalk project I don’t understand why we need storm sewers, curbs, gutters to be installed on every street or why the ditches would be filled in. At present, storm water runs off through those ditches and we have no major flooding issues. In most places the existing ditches do not need to be filled in to make space for sidewalks. Collettville streets are wide and there is room to put a sidewalk on the opposite side of the street from where the ditches are. We don’t need fancy sidewalks; an at-grade paved walkway would be more than adequate, similar to what is on the Coldwater River trail or on the new walk-way across from the hospital and an at-grade walkway would still allow water to run off to the ditches.

If you are a Collettville resident and you think it is not right that we would have to pay for sidewalks with no help from the rest of the city or, if you think that the proposed project is excessive, make time to meet with the Mayor and councillors to express your displeasure, phone them (250) 378-4224, send them e-mails, write letters to the editor and come election day, remember what the present city administration tried to do to you.

 

Dave Crack
Collettville resident