It’s very sad and upsetting that local business owners Teresa Cowan and Greg Balogh had to appear before town council earlier this week in the first place.
Cowan and Balogh made a presentation to council detailing their plans for a community cleanup project scheduled for Saturday, April 21 to clean up garbage left behind by irresponsible and inconsiderate citizens in the otherwise pristine hills located behind the Dividend Ridge subdivision not far from the gorgeous Osoyoos Golf and Country Club.
Cowan has been hiking and using the walking trails in these hills for over 15 years and said she’s never seen so much garbage being dumped illegally by so many people.
Several local businesses have already jumped on board by donating equipment and manpower for the cleanup event and all members of the community who are interested in helping out are being invited to participate.
Huge stashes of garbage are being discarded, which is very frustrating because this is a glorious piece of property used by so many law-abiding citizens for hiking and enjoying the outdoors, said Cowan.
Cowan and Balogh are to be commended for organizing the cleanup event, but also stressing to council just how bad the situation has become and how new enforcement policies are needed to try and dissuade people from illegal dumping of trash in this area.
Increasing fines for illegal dumping from the current $200 and erecting new signs clearly indicating illegal dumping won’t be tolerated and violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law is a giant step in the right direction.
Several members of council applauded Cowan and Balogh for their concern and initiative in organizing the community cleanup and ensured them they would be participating in this very worthwhile cause on April 21.
While the vast majority of citizens would never consider dumping garbage in the bush, it’s obvious there are some people who simply don’t care.
They should be ashamed of themselves and take a long look in the mirror next time they consider placing their trash in an area designed to provide peace and solitude to so many.