Carney's sets record straight
Editor,
A number of your readers posed good questions in the most recent editions of The Chief. I want to clarify one error in fact published in a letter written by Ronaye Daly (Trashing new garbage totes) in the Feb. 17 edition. The new totes were not paid for by the taxpayers. In fact, the totes were paid for by Carney's Waste Systems.
Many people have called Carney's over the last few weeks to pose questions and express concerns about the new tote system. We encourage residents to communicate directly with us so we can resolve the concerns.
And, anyone who was delivered an extra tote, please call Carney's so we can make arrangements to take it back.
John French
Carney's Waste Systems
Bears' new lunch pails
Editor,
In my position as Forestry Supervisor with the District of West Vancouver, I work co-operatively with the Conservation Officer Service to manage 30 to 40 bears that wander into the residential areas of West Vancouver for about 10 months of the year. At every meeting, workshop and conference on bears that I go to, garbage is identified as the number-one problem for attracting bears into a community.
One of the solutions is to enact a bylaw restricting the time frame garbage is put on the curb; the other is changing to some form of bear-proof garbage containers.
Squamish recently enacted a bylaw to regulate garbage, but I do not understand why when the waste company has a chance to be on the cutting edge and do their part to solve bear problems, they didn't supply bear-proof garbage totes. The garbage totes the waste company has given everyone are not bear-proof at all and without will be a headache for the Conservation Officers.
Recently I was at a bear conference and there was a company from Canmore, Alta. with a bear-proof garbage tote which stays locked until the truck picks it up and adapts to any kind of truck for pickup. I don't understand why the waste company didn't research these totes that are not more expensive than the ones that were given to residents.
The bear problems are not going to solve themselves and everyone has to do their part.
Larry McHale
Brackendale
A 'dangerous party' on 99
Editor,
I would like to express some views regarding the Feb. 11 motorcycle accident that resulted in the closure of Hwy. 99 for approximately eight hours.
During hazardous weather conditions, the highway is closed using the yellow barriers equipped with stop signs. Had they been employed, traffic would have been held back to allow emergency vehicles to readily access the accident scene. We heard Mountain FM announce that vehicles were preventing speedy access to the scene.
Having spent almost two hours in the lineup that stretched from the scene all the way back to the Chief parking lot, it was dangerous to turn around after dark. We saw many vehicles sitting sideways across the highway as they jockeyed back and forth to turn around. A vehicle sitting sideways after dark does not have visible lights.
In addition to the vehicle situation, youths were on rollerblades and skateboards at every hill - they, too, could not be seen until the very last moment. In other words, a dangerous party atmosphere had developed.
The police and emergency crews were doing their best to cope with an out-of-control situation. Let's not allow it to happen again.
Donald Christie
Squamish
Regarding 'Monster' homes
Editor,
Finally, our Mayor has listened to the people and started some action on dealing with the changing face of Squamish. Regarding the "Monster Home" debate, the District of Squamish Planning Department (overworked and underfunded as they are) is working hard to bring to Council a Zoning Amendment which would update the antiquated and inadequate zoning and building regulations, which amazingly allow them to issue building permits for 6,000 square foot homes on 6,000 square foot lots (complete with multiple illegal suites). This zoning amendment should be before Council by mid-March and through the official review and public hearing process by the end of April prior to the beginning of the summer building season.
This issue is not about limiting what citizens can build on their private property, it is about limiting the disastrous effect outdated, terrible zoning is having on our communities. It pits neighbour against neighbour, builder against planner and in the end the "form and character" of our neighbourhoods is sold out for a few thousand bucks in building permit fees.
This is not a new or a Mayoral initiative. It is clearly outlined in the Smart Growth on the Ground "Downtown Squamish Concept Plan" officially published Oct. 18, 2005. The plan strongly recommends this zoning amendment and the attached site coverage and design guidelines as high priorities, outlining "... recommendations for land use concepts, character (including building type, height, orientation, open space, parking etc.), block typology, riparian setbacks, viewscapes and sense of place in revision of Development Permit Area Guidelines." The entire plan is available on the District website or on CD from the Planning Department. Everyone who cares about what our community will look like in 10 years should read it.
Most people Downtown do not want to blame this heated issue on anything but the colossal failure of our existing zoning and building regulations. Pending public debate and input on the proposed zoning amendment, I think it would be reasonable to not issue any more building permits Downtown or in Dentville until the huge house hole is plugged by modern, effective legislation with the best interest of all Squamish citizens as its first and foremost goal.
Kevin Damaskie
Squamish Downtown Neighbourhood Association
Goose poop part 2
Editor,
After talking to district authorities concerning this problem, I was told there's no health issue. But, said report hasn't been found. Not a health issue.
How many times has someone gotten a scrape, or some kind of cut at the playing field and it's become infected enough to need medical attention? Healthy children go merrily to play their soccer game, end up having goose poop, on their shoes, socks, legs, shorts, shirts, hands, faces and hair, literally all over themselves. They go to the concession afterwards. Next thing you know, sniffles, coughs, rashes and what have you.
It is known that pigeon poop carries 60 different viruses. Geese don't have any? Is it because they're a protected species?In Sunday's Province paper the headline reads G8 Ministers warn of danger of a pandemic. The bird flu virus is now found in Italy, Greece and Bulgaria and has crossed into Africa. Humans have been dying on the way. How's it spreading? Wild swans. Get the picture? Don't tell me these geese aren't a health concern. Sounds a bit like the water scandal back east when the authorities said there wasn't anything wrong with the drinking water.
Why do we as field users put up with this crap? I understand there's a machine developed to clean up the poop. The cost is $100,000. Now, if the machine does the job, I say buy one immediately. As a tax payer I'd much rather have some of the tax dollars going towards acquiring one of these machines than spending it on the cowboy hat on the side of the highway. Let's get something done sooner rather than later.
Jim Raymond
Squamish
