Dear Editor:
I would like to respond to those who think that the corrections facility might be negative for the regions image or be a stain on our efforts at promoting tourism or to locate a business or as a fine place to live.
I strongly object to the editorial which continues to present the case that a corrections facility would negatively affect the community.
Contrary to that opinion, Summerland is in a positive strategic position to provide a location that easily meets the province’s criteria.
Such efforts continue to risk putting our residents on the inexorable treadmill of escalating property taxes in order to renew aging infrastructure.
An interview with Summerland’s Economic Development and Tourism President Roger Gillespie adds to this litany of negative thought, who stated the proposal of a correctional facility “is opposite to what we have been trying to do.”
I respectfully submit that an enhanced property tax base that will be steady over the next 30 to 40 plus years will allow the District of Summerland to enhance the chamber’s efforts to attract the tourist trade.
This would be a sudden boost of 25 per cent in our property tax that the District of Summerland can use to increase our community aesthetics.
For example, each time that our water demands exceed our water treatment capacity we will have boil water advisories.
As Coun. Jim Kyluik has stated, this continues to be a hindrance to tourism activity.
Over the last 120 years my family has had a deep commitment to the South Okanagan and I have no desire to negatively affect an area where several generations of my relatives have loved to live and raise their families.
I believe the corrections facility can be located in a site — particularly in Summerland where it will not be in view from residential locations.
It will not be in view to detract from residents and visitors perception of a beautiful rural-urban community.
The District of Summerland has several sites of municipally owned land that are partially serviced and could easily be fully serviced.
I firmly believe that such an economic generator will enhance our tourism efforts and hence make it easier to make our municipality more attractive with the possibility of consistently low property taxes for current and potential residents.
Peter Waterman
Summerland
