Scout Island - A Year Later...

At the August 31st, 2010 WL Council "Committee of the Whole" Meeting - both Fred McMechan and Sue Hemphill from the WL Field Naturalists appeared before WL Council to discuss increased funding for operating Scout Island - see their letter here and the notes I took at that meeting here

Their request was subsequently referred to the October 27th, 2010 Central Cariboo Joint Committee meeting where the request of the WL Field Naturalists (increased funding for Scout Island Nature Centre) was simply received pending development of a Joint Fee-for-Service program which may include additional funding of Scout Island.  This Joint Fee for Service program was presented as a late item for information at the September 14th, 2011 Central Cariboo Joint Committee meeting and will be further discussed at the October 26th, 2011 Central Cariboo Joint Committee meeting.  See the report from Brian Carruthers on a Joint Fee for Service program (scroll down to Page 197) here

As a City resident that frequently makes use of Scout Island and its service - I don't believe the WL Field Naturalists should have to be forced to wait for a year or more to know if their request will be fully considered or not.  As they note in their letter - they wish comparable financial treatment that taxpayers give to the local Museum of the Cariboo-Chilcotin

I would argue that because the service that the WL Field Naturalists provide to operate the Scout Island Nature Centre and attracts more tourists then go to the Museum and because the costs are going up to operate this site and for many additional reasons - they should get the money required to operate the site immediately and not be forced to operate with "breadcrumbs" while waiting a year or longer for the politicians (City of WL/CRD) to make up their mind

This WL Councillor candidate feels quite strongly that the WL Field Naturalist request for increased funding warrants action today and not delay upon delay and if elected - I will aggressively push to have their funding request expedited for action including finding money for any capital items at Scout Island that needs to be funded (ie: Furnace, etc) in addition to creating a strategic plan for Scout Island itself for the next 10 years to ensure Scout Island becomes "the crown jewel" of the Central Cariboo and is sustainable - both from an environmental and financial point of view


SBF