Dear editor,
In your front-page article Nov. 9, Mayor Ives states that "our volunteer water meter program is a $1.5-million dollar project ... and we've been able to meter 1,400 homes — 30 per cent of the town."
This statement is completely misleading. I have a water meter and I absolutely did not volunteer to have the town of Comox spend its tax dollars putting one in my yard.
The mayor's statement makes it appear as though the 30 per cent jumped on the bandwagon with him. Had I been able to "volunteer" for one, I certainly would not have.
The water meter program is only volunteer should you choose to use it, and that is after it has been installed in your yard (can I have a guarantee that this will remain voluntary? (I'm thinking not.)
What a complete waste of money for anyone that chooses not to sign onto the program. Perhaps a better way of instituting them for the newer subdivisions would have been to ask volunteers to step forward and one would be provided to them.
I am quite certain the Town would not have been able to find enough volunteers to spend/waste the $1.4 million that they managed to. Courtenay's Mayor Phelps should be congratulated on his common sense approach with regard to metering.
I am very relieved that Mr. Poole has chosen to run for mayor. He and people running for councillors positions that are apposed to water meters have my vote.
If you are not sure who is for or apposed to them, take a moment and phone or e-mail them for yourself. Let's put our money where it's needed — into revitalizing our town and improving the waterfront.
C. Van Berkel,
Comox