Editor:
Mr. Hatherly’s feeling that council’s negative comments were unjust is an opinion.
Council made a request in motion 300/09 that the Home Building Centre keep compliance logs for the period of time from Aug. 16 to Nov. 16.
During that time I did my best to comply with dates and times when available.
The HBC kept no compliance logs, citing that it would have been an administrative burden on them and would have had a negative impact on their productivity.
That is the reason council was upset, and justly so.
After my letter dated June 11/09, Mr. Hatherly states “strict directives were implemented by management and followed by HBC yard staff.
Like when I came home at 3:43 on Oct. 16 to find my property blocked off with a B train, or on Oct. 30/09 from 8:14 to 8:52: a rear loading transport was allowed to idle on 78th Avenue for 38 minutes, or Oct. 21 7:55 to 8:07 (12 minutes) a transport truck cooling down, or was he waiting for his air brakes to disengage?
Regardless of any “self imposed changes” prior to my letter, the issue at hand were trucks on 78th Avenue loading/unloading and trucks running.
I do accept the fact that the HBC is an important and needed business in Osoyoos and is an integral part for many contractors with their supply needs.
My “anecdotal report” was not skewed nor was it grossly inaccurate.
The idling issue is a byproduct of the delivery trucks themselves.
Yes a bylaw would help but not remove the trucks from 78th Avenue.
With the CHOOSING of moving here bit, Mr. Hatherly speaks of what happened long before he became an employee of the HBC and we had a good feeling of confidence from them that the situation on 78th Avenue was just temporary.
That was seven-plus years ago.
With the quick and sudden growth experienced during those years, the transport truck loading/unloading became a problem not just for me but at least 16 other taxpayers with backyards in the area.
They signed a petition voicing their concerns about the use of 78th Avenue by the HBC for its operations.
So, in my opinion, Mr. Hatherly’s opinion of this being my personal agenda could have included the 16 other people in this neighbourhood who have the same concerns as I.
I’m not unsatisfied with my chosen location; it’s close to all amenities, downtown, doctors’ office, post office, etc.
What I’m unsatisfied with was the resistance of HBC to use its own property to do business on, not 78th Avenue.
Maybe now would be a good time to put this to rest and be happy with the advances made.
Victor Wright,
Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-December 23, 2009

WRITER NOT HAPPY WITH PROPOSED NEW LANES FOR HWY. 97

Editor:
Who am I?
Only a concerned citizen trying to understand the reason for a new highway to be built, when the existing one can be utilized fully with added extensions being made.
Knowing also that rather than the $3.5 million being the cost it has now climbed to $8 million-plus.
When in actual fact if what was already in place was used, with additions made from that point how much of the taxpayers’ money could be saved and put to use on other areas that are in serious need of correction?
A great concern is accessibility to the business locations along the route, taxpayers who abide by all the rules made, going out of their way to make it safer for their customers - now will be forced out of business because of the proposed highway expansion.
Tell me please why is this being allowed, and the people who are being stepped on have to hire top legal aid to help correct the wrong that is being done?
Fresh fruit, vegetables, and the wineries have been the drawing point for tourism to the area, and yet you are taking all access away from the business owners with no thought of what they have and can contribute to the economy of British Columbia.
Just think that possibly the millions that could be saved, could be used to improve the turns by Cemetery Road or Graveside Hill.
Patricia McCulloch,
Osoyoos
Editor’s Note: Boundary-Similkameen MLA John Slater has said an adjacent access road will also be built in the area where the proposed passing lanes will be located on Hwy. 97 so that fruit stands that normally operate on that stretch of highway will be able to stay open.

OSOYOOS TIMES-December 23, 2009