This town has more issues in need of scratching than an outbreak of the mange at the dog pound.
For starters, let’s talk about public transit. At the moment, less than two per cent of Squamish residents use that service. Inadequate routes and scheduling inefficiencies have been hallmarks of the system for years. And it is no secret that we live in a wet climate. The installation of shelters at bus stops will go a long way toward boosting ridership.
Based on District of Squamish building permit reports, since 2013, construction projects with a total value of $226, 390,672 have been undertaken from one end of the valley to the other. Some of the funds from the district’s levies on those transactions should be channelled into transit upgrades and other pressing community needs.
To monitor that staggering amount of development, the district has a grand total of three building inspectors on staff. According to Gary Buxton, general manager of development services and public works, so far “they have been capably dealing with the greatly increased building activity.” But local residents need to ask if that threadbare supervisory arrangement will eventually lead to extensive corner cutting and substandard workmanship in this hothouse construction sector.
On another front, from the beginning of 2014 to April of this year, 81 cars were stolen in town, according to the RCMP. Over the past two years, 254 thefts from vehicles were recorded. During that time span, 1,378 occurrences of property crime were reported. In order to head off the rising tide of criminal activity evident in many jurisdictions on the Lower Mainland, protective services enhancements will be essential here in Squamish. That should include ramped up Crime Stoppers initiatives, an expanded Neighbourhood Watch arrangement, an enlarged community policing volunteer program and more cops on the beat.
Another concern is the over the top budget for the Official Community Plan. According to the district’s communication manager, that project is costing taxpayers $377,535. Although the OCP is provincially mandated, why is the district spending a king’s ransom on production costs? We have to ask ourselves how some of those tax dollars could be allocated more prudently when young families have to dig into their own pockets to pay for the use of municipal soccer fields.
Let’s conclude here by returning to that nasty canine skin condition mentioned at the outset. The district is tossing $3 million at information technology upgrades. Is there a chance somebody at muni hall can dredge up a paltry $300 for the paint to enhance the mangy exterior of that structure? And while the scaffolding is up, how about taking down the array of Christmas lights gracing the front of the building? After all, it’s June, folks.
