We are writing with regard to your article (Lillooet Administrator Takes Polygraph, Lashes At Critics, The Daily News, Sept. 18) by your staff reporter, Cam Fortems.

There is a real story behind this article that you have yet to bring forward to your readers in Kamloops and Lillooet. I am sure that some further journalistic research would bring forth a most interesting set of events that lead up to the article.

You can see that we in Lillooet have leadership that has a sense of self that is beyond belief.

The arrogance and insecurity put forth in the article is typical of what our town has been exposed to for the past few years and is rather frightening.

Unfortunately, Lillooet is a town in decline. The tax base is being seriously eroded and the number of for-sale signs throughout the town is alarming.  

There are a number of taxpayers who are concerned about the present and future financial state of Lillooet.
One of the main concerns for a number of people is the District of Lillooet’s water project, which is presently underway.

While we desire to work with mayor and council in obtaining basic information for this project in order to put our minds at ease (and subsequently we are sure others would as well), we have not been able to obtain two very basic pieces of information for this project from either the District of Lillooet or TRUE Consulting.

The information we seek is, on what criteria was the proposed water source chosen, and what will be the ongoing operating costs?

In our extensive experience with world-class projects never has there been one in our 35-plus years that has not been able to provide the classification for selection or the ongoing operating costs.

These are two very basic pieces of information that are critical to the viability of any project and should be readily available to any affected taxpayer.

It is interesting to note within your article that this very petty piece of debasement has made it to council when our many written queries and questions never seem to make the agenda. Yes, there is a story here, a very interesting one for your readers but a sad one for us.

VERA AND PETER BUSSE

Lillooet