Frustration bubbled up at West Kelowna council on May 20, as residents called for greater transparency and accountability in the city乌鸦传媒檚 handling of the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant (RVWTP) finances.
Scott Beaton appeared before council on behalf of users of the plant.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e been raising these financial issues to city staff and council for more than six months. Things haven乌鸦传媒檛 changed,乌鸦传媒� Beaton told council. 乌鸦传媒淚f they continue to be mishandled, each member of council risks exposing themselves to personal liability for misuse of funds and could be disqualified from holding office.乌鸦传媒�
He alleges that the city乌鸦传媒檚 financial reporting shows that in both 2023 and 2024, $20 million more was spent than what was budgeted.
乌鸦传媒淏oth times staff said comparisons can乌鸦传媒檛 be made because the budgets don乌鸦传媒檛 contain amortization. But flip the page and look at the financial statements the budgets do contain amortization.乌鸦传媒�
The final budget for the Rose Valley Water Treatment Plant totalled $75 million, funded through $41 million in government grants, $10.5 million from city reserves, and $23.5 million in borrowing.
Beaton also claimed that the levy on residents to repay debt for the Rose Valley water project hasn乌鸦传媒檛 been budgeted in any of the next five years.
乌鸦传媒淪ince these amounts haven乌鸦传媒檛 been approved in the annual financial plan, they would be unauthorized expenditures. The city can乌鸦传媒檛 move forward with the debt until council has properly authorized that spending.乌鸦传媒�
Beaton called for an independent audit of the city乌鸦传媒檚 expenditures on the RVWTP, and the report to be released to the public and that council defer both the levy and the conversion of short-term borrowing to long-term debt until a clearer financial plan is in place.
He also raised concerns about the plant乌鸦传媒檚 performance, and the city乌鸦传媒檚 decision to continue working with the same engineering firm that designed the plant.
乌鸦传媒淚t didn乌鸦传媒檛 meet the Canadian Drinking Water Guidelines,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭he upgrade projects to meet those specifications are still going today.乌鸦传媒�
Following Beaton乌鸦传媒檚 presentation, council members responded during a staff report on efforts to improve water quality at the Rose Valley Reservoir.
乌鸦传媒淲e might as well address that there are some major allegations here that I乌鸦传媒檓 not comfortable walking away from,乌鸦传媒� Councillor Stephen Johnston said. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e asked these questions of staff and there seem to be some conflicting responses or understanding of the information coming back between us and the community.乌鸦传媒�
He noted that the city乌鸦传媒檚 financial statements were recently audited.
乌鸦传媒淭his council has asked hard questions of our auditors and the report comes back clean. I乌鸦传媒檓 left here sitting乌鸦传媒攚hat the heck is going on?乌鸦传媒�
City CAO Ron Bowles responded to the concerns.
乌鸦传媒淭here is truth in fact,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淚 haven乌鸦传媒檛 seen any submission of any truth or fact in the allegations. Allegations are a different thing and we must rise above them.乌鸦传媒�
Johnston also acknowledged public communication issues around the water levy.
乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 no excuse for that. There should have been more time given for the payout,乌鸦传媒� he said, asking staff whether an extension could be considered.
Councillor Garrett Millsap also acknowledged Beaton's claims and concerns about the plant乌鸦传媒檚 design.
乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 been some serious allegations put forward tonight against council and staff. From what I乌鸦传媒檝e seen from the experts and auditors, everything is in line, so let乌鸦传媒檚 have people see that. I乌鸦传媒檇 like to hear from AECOM on the design of the plant and if it met specifications."
He noted that while the plant is operating properly, the quality of the source water from the Rose Valley Reservoir has changed.
Councillor Jason Friesen, who lives on the Rose Valley water system, addressed residents乌鸦传媒� concerns about water quality, the water levy, and communication.
乌鸦传媒淭he water levy was communicated in 2020, and it changed a little bit,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淎nd we came out of the gate and we messed it up.乌鸦传媒�
Friesen stated that financial negligence allegations, and concerns about water quality are separate issues.
乌鸦传媒淲e can乌鸦传媒檛 be using one to fire up another,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭hat doesn乌鸦传媒檛 help anybody in the community.乌鸦传媒�
Mayor Milsom echoed council乌鸦传媒檚 concerns. 乌鸦传媒淲e want to make the situation better,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭he key thing is that we continue to talk in a good and respectful way.乌鸦传媒�
As council moved to the next agenda item, some residents expressed frustration about not feeling heard on the matter.
乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e going to carry on,乌鸦传媒� Milsom said. 乌鸦传媒淲e listen, we read, we gather as much information乌鸦传媒攚e hear you.乌鸦传媒�
