To the Editor:
Not long after the municipal vote a regular meeting of citizenry — about 25-30 diehards — and our Regional District of Central Kootenay director was held in the West Creston Hall. There was usual husband/wife combo of volunteer firefighters and the rest onlookers, bystanders and curious retirees with nothing better to do. Never one member of a select group that despises government, hates taxes, never votes but fully demands and expects good roads and a clinic and the rest. That night, a fine looking gentleman in full parade uniform handed to us a “proposed” budget for a fire hall that is being discussed endlessly. Who exactly is pushing it and who wants to do the so-called integration project is not too clear to me.
Suffice to say, my “upstairs” facilities revolted and recoiled. Obscenities and expletives were fighting with reason and optical illusions also asked for their voice. Did I see a typo or was I deluding myself? A brand spanking new fire hall to the tune of $1.45 million including the minor details. Just sign here for 25 years and we will build it for you. Lucky me?
How does that grab you? A beggar’s banquet for which the beggar ends up paying, since the offer is generously made by the RDCK with provision of an access to my (our) pension accounts. Gee whiz! A yearly operational budget of $150,000! When I saw those figures, I knew I had to vacate the premises. I value my life and freedom too much despite my 12.5 times smaller yearly budget. My wife and I are not ashamed to live on crumbs, but I do it with dignity.
I simply did not dare to start shouting obscenities — the obscenity was staring in my face already. After a cooling down period, I offered pictures and financial statistics to the authorities as an alternative. Also, I requested a number: How many families/taxable properties are there in West Creston and the flats, the area that would bear this project on their shoulders? No reply! So I walked through the Telus pages and added individuals known as unlisted. Grand total: 151.
Yes, it includes a select few, gents with an airfield, a 200-acre ranch, bean counters and milk barons. It, however, heavily leans to the retired, who are just making it, scraping by. Who in this insane money hungry world has a budget of 150 grand? Who is blessed with overflowing plates and chalices? Just because there is great push and influx by oil-covered Albertans who golf and travel the world, it still does not give a right to kick the rest of us in the posterior — or does it? And if the area from Teetzel to Balsam managed to survive without a marble hall with a souped up Lamborghini for the past 112 years, why push it now? Are there any Samaritans?
The town of Creston swore it will not touch this herring with a 10-foot pole. Nor 12. They achieved their goal hooking us for the rec centre, and now we are on our own. Go figure! Don’t you love democracy?
Oh well. It’s time to turn a leaf — the season calls for it. Joy to the world!
Frank Belavy
West Creston