Editor:
One of the important functions of a mayor is to ensure public safety. As the chief executive officer of the municipality, he, of all people, is supposed to know his staff, his resources and the local area well enough to make key decisions in an emergency situation.
Because we have the District of Kent surrounding us, we share a lot of emergency resources such as search and rescue and fire equipment through a ” mutual aid” agreement. We also have a “Joint Emergency Planning Committee” to ensure our resources are well co-ordinated in a crisis. I, as former Harrison mayor, was part of that for many years and it was there that I first suggested the northern escape route through Sasquatch Park.
Ed Wood is our mayor, lives centrally in Harrison village and has a lot of experience in managing public resources. The Community Charter gives him special responsibilities in emergency situations and also gives him, alone, the special powers to make decisions in a crisis. Evacuation orders, for instance.
But Ed Wood is not on the Joint Emergency Planning Committee with Kent. The rebel council has refused to allow him to be our representative there. As part of their selfish efforts to keep fighting the 2022 election and reject the voters’ choice of mayor, they have refused to allow him to perform this critical function of being ready to act for us in a crisis.
Instead of the mayor, they have appointed Coun. Vidal to that key position, just like they appointed Coun. Facio to the Regional District instead of Mayor Wood. Coun. Vidal would appear to be a poor choice of representative and does not have any of the emergency powers assigned to Mayor Wood.
So if you’re wondering if we are well-prepared to handle a crisis ( such as that facing Osoyoos currently), we are not. The rebels have, again, put their personal political vendetta against our mayor ahead of public safety.
John Allen
Harrison Hot Springs