To the Editor,
Re: Council considers another study on Colliery dams, Sept. 18.
Council’s direction to get more information regarding a study, determining how the dams will respond in a flood event, gives us more trust in the process. We have asked for this since June as it will give a better understanding of what is actually required.
The engineer’s options for remediation were brought back in March, well before all the information was gathered. This rush to action based on a perceived emergency that does not exist has cost us dearly.
Our group has been chastised for asking questions and demanding answers. We make no apology. We are not the experts, but we have attended all the technical meetings and spent hundreds of hours going over the reports to make sure we understand the information and to ask questions when we don’t. We are talking about millions of dollars and a huge intrusion to the park. We want to make sure that what is done is only what is absolutely required.
It is expected that an important decision will be made about the park next week. Our hope is that we will finally be allowed to obtain the information needed to make the best plan for our park.
Jeff SolomonColliery Dam Park Preservation Society
To the Editor,
Re: Flood signs shuffled in Harewood, Sept. 18.
The mayor must apologize on behalf of the city for scaring Harewood residents and wasting close to $2 million dollars already for maintaining there were major problems with the Colliery dams. That has now been proven false.
The mayor saying the city acted in good faith and in the best interests of the people is no excuse for council not doing its due diligence.
Council members should have challenged and questioned staff and searched out their own unbiased information. Instead most praised staff at almost every turn for the hypothetically terrifying scenarios they were fed.
Drake M. ChurchbridgeNanaimo