A qathet Regional District (qRD) director has taken exception to the tone of some correspondence the regional district has received regarding composting.
At the May 27 regional board meeting, Electoral Area C director Clay Brander said he wanted to address a matter that has been before the regional board for the last couple of months, and that is composting.
Brander said he wanted to start his address with some quotes from correspondence the regional district has received:
“Who do you think you are? The city [of Powell River] and regional district have sewn half-truths and non-truths. We do not know where you obtained your information but we did double check ours. There is not an adult, never mind a grade six elementary child, who would come up with this idea. For 10 years now the qRD and the city have planned and predetermined a facility location on the Townsite waterfront. This is a misleading and cynical attempt to hoodwink the taxpayers of Powell River. Shame on all of you and all parties the qRD and city is complicit with in pushing this stinking mess forward.”
Brander said these are just a few of the quotes he imagined many of the directors remember taking from the many pieces of correspondence qRD has received for the past few months, and he wanted to comment on them.
“First off, I want to assure the public that the Townsite location was not and is not a predetermined location for a composting facility,” said Brander. “It is one that has been proposed by a contractor hoping to provide this service for our community. Just because this site was the first to be mentioned does not give it any preference over other potential sites, but it would be irresponsible of the qRD staff not to consider it.
“All potential sites are still being considered and being weighed on their merits. They will be presented to the regional board as unbiased information.”
Brander said while there has been an aggressive tone to some of the correspondence received, most has been respectful and that it is appreciated. He said, however, some people have chosen to attack the intelligence, integrity and abilities of the qRD board and staff members.
“No one on the board or the staff has a stake in this game,” said Brander. “We are just doing what it takes to make sure the correct decision is made.
“I personally want to commend the staff for the work they have done in their research and the methodical process they carry out when assessing each proposal. Everything has been done appropriately and systematically in order to assure the best possible outcome. Anything else would be unacceptable.”
