PORT ALBERNI - Beaver Creek Improvement District's board of trustees considering option of contracting private company for water

Residents call plan 'underhanded'

Water that satisfies the stringent purity criteria set out by the Vancouver Island Health Authority could prove to be an expensive requirement for the Beaver Creek Improvement District. The district is waiting for the release of a report on a regional water system before it decides what to do about the situation. Beaver Creek's plan to improve its water system is in a crisis right now.

That's because the Beaver Creek Improvement District board of trustees is considering another option that will see a partnership established with a water solutions company. The plan involves a 21-year contract with Corix, which is proposing to work on the district's water system.

The board already signed a memorandum of understanding between the BCID and Corix. Trustees Ron Barclay, Kelly Schutte and Tracy Neuwirth endorsed it with chairman Bob Haynes opposing.

Area resident Susan Roth, who became aware of the new plan, called the process "underhanded" because it was signed without going through public consultation.

"The deal was done completely behind closed door," Roth said. "The BCID has agreed to work exclusively with Corix to develop a water utility strategy for the community. This means all of the options unveiled in the Alberni Valley Regional Water Study are now off the table."

The MOU also has a clause that stipulates there will be "no public disclosure" without prior written approval from the private corporation.

"The BCID does not have the right to limit or block public access to any information about our water system, especially when it comes to our financial affairs," Roth said.

Haynes said the MOU was supposed to be a confidential document, but it came out in the open when representatives from Corix were given the opportunity to make a presentation and a chance to talk to some residents at a meeting, which was short notice and not well publicized.

It was organized by former trustee Ed Walcot last Monday night at the Beaver Creek Fire Hall. More than 50 people were present, including trustees Barclay, Schutte and Neuwirth.

Haynes said he was not aware of the meeting.

"I wasn't privy to that," Haynes said. "For what reason they did that, I don't know."

The district has until the end of April of this year to submit an upgraded plan to Vancouver Island Health Authority to make its water meet the 4-3-2-1 standards. A proposal was already submitted to VIHA last May. In it, BCID stated it would pursue the option of linking the water system to the City of Port Alberni. Since that time, no action has been taken to get the plan rolling, Haynes said, expressing utter disappointment about what's happening in the district.

"They were supposed to do that, but it's not been done," Haynes said. "That's what I've been frustrated about. In my opinion, it's an extremely dysfunctional board."

The BCID also had another proposal on the table. It's for Beaver Creek to become part of the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District's regional water plan. Haynes said resolutions have also been passed to allow the regional district to assess the inventory for water supply out in the Beaver Creek area.

"Now we're changing that again," Haynes said. "We're going to look at this Corix. We already have two proposals in the fire and now we're going to put another one in?"

Former trustee Wayne Hasler, who signed the proposal submitted to VIHA as the board chair, attended the Corix presentation, and he liked what he saw.

"They made a quick run through of our system, and they said it's not as bad as other ones they've seen," said Hasler, who will be vying for one of the three trustee positions in Monday's AGM. "They have some solutions of what can be done with their help. It can be done by ourselves, but these people have the knowledge and expertise.

"My thing is, Beaver Creek would be smart by utilizing them as best we can. They are regulated by the government so they can't go and charge exorbitant rates."

Corix did not divulge how much it would cost residents. It will make a presentation at the annual general meeting on Monday that will take place at the Best Western at 6 p.m.

"They will have all the numbers at the AGM, what it would cost us and everything," Hasler said.

Haynes believes that over the period of 21 years with Corix, it would cost the more than 900 users in the area more money.

"I am talking, not as chairman of BCID, but as a taxpayer out here, I don't think that's the way to go." Haynes said.

Haynes also warns that, because Beaver Creek has not implemented the proposal it presented to VIHA, they could be fined around $600 a day until the district gets the water up to 4-3-2-1 standard.

"It's an absolute crisis right now," Haynes said.

The annual general meeting will take place at the Best Western Barclay Hotel on May 2 at 6 p.m. in the ballroom. Voting will be in the small Stamps Room between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.

MBrionesavtimes.net

© Alberni Valley Times 2011

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Following is a Letter to the Editor in response to the above article. Re-printed with permission from the author.

From: MARUSHA TAYLOR
Date: Sat, 30 Apr 2011 11:21:26 -0700
To: newsavtimes.net


Dear Editor,

As someone who opposes the privatization of public water systems, I found Friday's story about the BCID alarming. Many facts were presented, but with no rationale to explain them. It raises a number of questions:

1. Why have the trustees given a private company in this case, Corix the right to limit communication between themselves and their constituency?
2. If a "public" presentation has already been made to a group of 50 people from the community, why are the projected costs of the Corix plan unavailable? Surely the board would not have signed a memorandum of understanding without that information, to which the ratepayers have a right.
3. Why was the BCID's current board chair excluded from the preliminary meeting with Corix, while former trustees participated, and in what capacity did they organize/attend this meeting?
4. Why have BCID ratepayers been exposed to fines without their knowledge because of the board's failure to pursue an option with the City of Port Alberni, per their agreement with VIHA?
5. Will those running for election to the board at Monday's AGM state their positions on this matter, and will the public be allowed to hear the presentations from the ACRD and Corix, before they elect their trustees?

The UN has declared water to be a fundamental human right which must not be commodified and sold, and even Amnesty International is weighing in on this. Across Canada, citizens are opposing public-private partnership (P3) deals. The ratepayers within the BCID's jurisdiction deserve answers to these questions so that they may make informed decisions on their own behalf, using a democratic and transparent process.

Sincerely,
M. Taylor
Port Alberni