West Bench

Kick-off meeting

We had a very productive kick-off meeting at the West Bench School library on Monday, December 14th (the meeting annoucement).  About a dozen local residents attended.

The primary purpose of the meeting was to identify some high-level objectives for the West Bench veterans tribute project. Based on the group discussion, the following objectives were identified.  We did not vote on these objectives but we did identify the veteran aspect as the most important.

By Kristi Patton - Penticton Western News, Published: November 08, 2011 4:00 PM (link to story)

A veteran’s memorial envisioned by the community of West Bench in 2008 now has the funds to be able to move forward.

The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen is receiving a maximum of $24,520 through the federal government Community War Memorial Program.

“This was something very dear to my heart,” said Sue Gibbons, who was instrumental in the project and her father, Bob Jenkins, was one of the original veterans from West Bench. “The West Bench is a very successful veteran lands act subdivision and it was important for me to pay tribute to those original veterans that settled and built their homes here on the West Bench.”

As residents know, walking on the West Bench can be hazardous.  Several residents have proposed improvements to roads on the West Bench to make walking safer and more enjoyable.  However, unlike municipalities, which own their own roads, rural roads are the responsibility of the provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI). In general, MoTI does not provide sidewalks along rural roads and the RDOS has no budget for such things.

By JOHN MOORHOUSE, Penticton Herald, Tuesday, November 8, 2011 (link to article)

A proposal to link the West Bench with the City of Penticton water system could boil down to a matter of dollars and cents, says the regional district director for Area F.

Michael Brydon said there are two main options for upgrading the aging West Bench water system.

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen could either build a separate ultraviolet treatment plant on the West Bench or buy "bulk" water from Penticton‘s filtered water system.

"That‘s really the decision that we‘re looking at," he said. "Do we process the water ourselves, or do we let the City of Penticton process it?"

However, Brydon said the two sides are far apart on the final tab. The RDOS option would cost $3.5 million plus almost $8 million in operating expenses over a 50-year period. The city proposal would involve $1.9 million in capital costs plus some $16 million in operating expenses over 50 years.

As discussed in a previous update, problems with the West Bench intake and pumping system have resulted in a boil water notice for the West Bench water system.  Many of these problems have existed for years.  However, the view has always been (and still is, according to our recent survey) that residents would prefer not to spend money on upgrading this infrastructure if it will be abandoned soon anyways. 

I have posted the raw numerical results for the West Bench boil water survey here.  The most important outcome is the response to the question:

Do you think the RDOS should proceed with the current boil water order? Please keep in mind that all costs of a service in a regional district in British Columbia are ultimately billed back to beneficiaries of the service.

A slight majority of residents are opposed to spending the necessary money to lift the boil water advisory, as summarized in the graphic below:

I have outlined the RDOS's response to the survey and the boil water problems in the next posting.

The West Bench neighbourhood is fortunate to have a newly upgraded public riding ring located at the top of Selby Park. All riders are welcome to use the facility.

Location:

Selby Park, West Bench Drive, a short distance north of West Bench Elementary School (see map)