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Opinions

An embarrassing saga

Now that Central Okanagan East has backed off its plans to investigate incorporation, it seems clear the whole endeavour was just a tit-for-tat move to get back at the City of Kelowna for considering a boundary extension in the area.
This week, the city stepped away from its boundary foray, saying it would let the inquiry into the desire for incorporation play out.
No sooner had the city done that, than regional director Patty Hanson and Co. declared there was suddenly no rush to look at incorporation.
Smells fishy to us.
Hanson has already had choice words with her fellow regional district directors over adoption of an 
official community plan that designates the area as “low growth.”
Hanson and developer Mark Consiglio are firmly behind development of the area.
Meanwhile, we’ve been receiving letters to the editor seriously questioning Hanson’s motives and actions in putting forth the incorporation question.
It seems a whole lot of feathers have been ruffled needlessly.
Behind it all appears to be the 
desire by landowner Consiglio to develop his South Slopes property with the controversial Kelowna Mountain project.
The regional district may well not be the best form of governance for Kelowna East, but the drama so far has been an embarrassment. 
For an area that supposedly aspires to run its own show, it doesn’t look very professional.
— Managing Editor
Jon Manchester

A little give and take

While the City of Kelowna entertains the idea of ceding control of a small part of its territory to Lake Country, it’s worth considering what other areas just outside city limits might be better served by bringing them under the city’s umbrella.
The boundary proposal in the city’s far north makes a lot of sense. 
For all practical purposes, the businesses and residents in the 90 acres at the tip of the municipal finger that extends all the way to Winfield are already Lake Country citizens in all but name. They receive Lake Country fire protection and some other municipal services, for example.
But at the other end of the city, the reverse is true. Residents of the South Slopes and at the far end of Lakeshore Road should be brought into the city.
While few in numbers now, the sometimes contentious Kelowna Mountain proposal on the South Slopes has the potential to add hundreds of new homes to the area.
These residents would all add to the burden on city roads and infrastructure, especially since there is really only one way in or out of the area. So, it makes sense for the city to have a hand in planning the scope of any development there. 
And it is only fair that those residents pay their share towards providing those services rather than enjoying everything the city has to offer while not contributing.
Their eventual inclusion within city boundaries is inevitable.
— Managing Editor
Jon Manchester

Kelowna cops pursuing park pervert

 

Police are seeking the public's assistance in identifying a man who has been seen on multiple occasions masturbating on local beaches recently.
 
Over the past two weeks, the Kelowna RCMP has received at least three reports of the same man seen masturbating in public on the beach near Watt Road. Apparently, the man uses the Watt Road beach access to enter the beach, searches for a secluded spot and then targets pre-teen or teenage girls. Reports indicate that the man has not yet approached anyone, but has cleared his throat or called out to a pair of young girls so that they would notice his actions. He has been witnessed leaving the scene on a red motor scooter.
 
The man is described as Caucasian, 6' tall, with blonde, thinning hair and average build. He is said to be missing teeth, or have no teeth. A cell phone photo was obtained from the most recently reported incident
 
Anyone with any information regarding the identity of the suspect is asked to call the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.crimestoppers.net to report.

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