PETERS: Noble Creek Irrigation System situation a hot potato no one wants to hold

It’s as if a government was providing an input for a manufacturing business. This is not the role of a municipal corporation.

The problem is, it has been in that business for decades and no previous councils have demonstrated the vision to foresee the liability this could eventually present to all of the city’s water ratepayers or leadership to get the city out of it.

Since the city owns and operates this utility and the residents rely on it for their livelihoods, the city has a responsibility not to cut and run.

Why should the rest of the city’s 100,000 residents care about an infrastructure matrix that serves a few dozen farm properties?

The answer has to do with expense and liability.

If problems persist and the intake eventually collapses into the North Thompson River, we’ll all be on the hook to pay for the cleanup.

As for the 41 users of the system, they don’t want this hot potato either — at least not in its current form.

Not only would they assume that liability, they would have to pay out a ton of money just to keep the system operating.

They would also be forced to take on the wrangling with the provincial government that may, one day, let them fortify the intake and pump house against the continued threat of erosion.

It’s a thankless task.

We should be thankful, though, that council took steps to do the right thing this week.

While ripping the bandage off is not possible, let’s hope the parties involved can make this transition as painless as possible for everyone.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.

by James Peters

PETERS: Noble Creek Irrigation System situation a hot potato no one wants to hold

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