Dear Editor:
On Nov. 28, Summerland council passed a resolution to apply for a grant to construct a lakeside pathway between Trout Creek and Lowertown.
It is unfortunate that Coun. Lloyd Christopherson, in speaking to that motion, chose to associate a broad based tourism and economic development initiative with a need for sidewalks.
“Come grow with us” is our mayor’s motto for the new term.
Our motto could also have been, “Let’s grow together” and this initiative is part of a plan to bring a number of groups together to strengthen our community.
Many projects are carried out this way and our required share can be volunteered, goods in kind, paid from property taxes or hopefully sourced from other levels of government.
We need economic growth to fill those empty storefronts and there are limited ways in which we can influence new economic activity.
While all of the candidates for town council acknowledged the real need for economic expansion, none of those elected had any suggestions how they could bring that about.
So here is a real opportunity for the town and residents to get behind a project that will benefit us all.
There is a thread from this initiative to economic growth and strengthening our property tax base.
That would enable us to afford more capital projects like our sidewalks.
You can watch and listen to our mayor’s response to Mr. Christopherson’s comments at that council meeting on the town website.
Don Gemmell
Summerland