Don't rush a legacy

Our local politicians say they wish to create a legacy for Lake Country residents.  But sadly lacking in the idea is the detailed budget that explains how this legacy will build our community rather than become an albatross of debt that will lie heavily on future generations.  Who amongst us has a crystal ball through which to see the future so clearly that we can promise this massive project will not turn into massive debt.  Is this not the current legacy of many past politicians – spend and borrow today and worry tomorrow.
 
Does Lake Country really need two trail corridors?   Perhaps we have forgotten the recently acquired Pelmewash Parkway which departs Highway 97 at the north end of Winfield to become a lake shore recreation roadway that extends all along the west side of Woods Lake to Oyama and continues along Kalamalka Lake to the very northern edge of Lake Country District where it merges back into the Highway.  Much work is needed to upgrade this new area, but is this not intended as a potential tourist corridor for recreation - swimming, boating, hiking, biking. This is an asset we already own. So, can this be incorporated as an alternate part of a connecting corridor between Kelowna and Vernon?  If so, then perhaps we could buy the southern district portion of the CNR lands and save a great deal of money by integrating the northern part of the rail trail into Pelmewash Parkway.  This option would allow a resident friendly compromise, where the private residents along the shores of both of these Lakes could directly purchase their own piece of the CN Rail corridor that currently divides their properties. They win and the District wins. This private purchase would reduce the Lake Country capital cost of buying the whole corridor and create an immediate new tax base for the district on this newly purchased private land.  This would create both short term and long term contribution to the economic health of the district.  It would allow for divided properties to become whole thereby pushing up those general land values making them more valuable as part of the district’s land base.  Potentially it may provide future development and revenue opportunities for the district as well.
 
The point is there are many unanswered questions about the current “legacy” proposal and any number of other good options that might be brought to light through community discussion and review if only our politicians were not in such a hurry to secure a blind “yes” vote to the current inadequate proposal. 
 
Should our legacy include possible parks and preserves throughout the district that may have equal or greater value at a fraction of the cost of the CN rail line? Should our legacy be for the benefit of a Politician’s ambition and public prestige or should it be fair community value without the burden of unfair taxation.
 
Therefore, we say Vote No to the proposal as presented.
 
Don & Kasandra Maxwell
Annual Lake Country Residents May through October