Soccer dome fiasco

Starting in January 2016, several West Kelowna council meetings gave approval to the design and construction of a soccer dome.

The project was contingent on funding, of which two-thirds was to be from donations and grants ($666,667) from the soccer association, and one-third from the city ($333,333). The city would also donate the required land, which needed to meet the requirements of the soccer association. The entire project, including land, was estimated to cost $1.5 million. 

Gordon Wiebe played council and the media to obtain advancement of the dome, and the city proceeded prior to final cost estimates, purchased new land in Rose Valley, and we stand today at a cost of $3.5 million.

If you think utility poles in the middle of the sidewalk were poor use of city funds, wait until the soccer dome fiasco is complete.

We will never be able to keep up with the budgeting/spending habits of such people on our city council. But who cares? We vote them in, let them do what they want.

Over-budget projects by this council include Gellatly Road, the Wine Trail, the soccer dome, and now apparently the Rose Valley water filtration plant. Our property taxes are increasing faster than inflation, our water fees are tripling, and money is being spent on pet vanity projects.

Bill Anstead, West Kelowna