Editor's note: This is a copy of a letter to Squamish's mayor and council. It was copied to The Chief for publication.
Re.: the SODC fiasco.
Since getting this property from the Province of B.C. some eight years ago for the price of $2, I have been shouting from the treetops to sit on the property and do nothing until Squamish evolves into a larger community which could handle and absorb a project of that magnitude.
My message was: Buy a few tons of grass seed, have a community work party, spread the seed around, let the grass grow, and everyone could enjoy the place.
My thought fell on deaf ears.
I had to listen to two chairpersons of SODC wax on about the wonders and virtues of the direction they were taking SODC.
It made sick to listen to their nonsense. This, from two chairpersons whose knowledge of real estate and banking would fit neatly onto a pinhead (for some reason, successive councils of Squamish thought it cool to seek out persons to head SODC who knew virtually nothing about real estate development of any kind, let alone a billion-dollar project).
So why am I bothering to remind you of this now? Because, quite frankly, it pisses me off that I was never listened to on this subject in spite of my 45-year successful track record in banking, finance and development.
And it pisses me off that the SODC now owes some $12 million. Against these lands and all they have to show for it is an artist's drawing of what the place might look like 100 years from now. And in conclusion, it pisses me off that the town is now forced to sell this land at fire-sale prices to get out from the mountain of debt incurred on the property over the past eight years.
You councillors come across as knowing what is best for our community.
But we are all coming to realize that this is a load of nonsense (when I walked into The Living Room restaurant for dinner last night, I practically got a standing ovation from the patrons there over my recent letter to you regarding your 25 per cent property tax increase decision.) Yes, that was not a typo: 25 per cent, because you also on Tuesday night laid out and approved a so-called financial plan for next year's 12 per cent increase.
With compounding, and your even much higher water, sewer and garbage bill increases, we are talking over 25 per cent here.
Do you really think you are going to get away this?
The five of you that voted for these increases will be blown away at the next election by voters angered and disgusted with your lack of ability to bring our costs in line with our revenues.
Have a nice day.
Douglas R. Day
Owner, Garibaldi Springs Golf Course
