CSRD bill for Emergency Operations Center
The Columbia Shuswap Regional District {CSRD} Emergency Operations Center {EOC} was activated to Level 1 on July 20, 2023 in response to the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire (K21620) which later merged with the Bush Creek East Wildfire (K21633). At the time, 79 members of the EOC including two directors and four finance members “worked” to coordinate tasks with BC Wildfire services, various government organizations and the public.
The emergency operations center {EOC} was deactivated October 3, 2023. The EOC is comprised of employees from the City of Salmon Arm and the CSRD; all from the public sector and paid from the public purse which is financed through the taxes we pay.
How much did the EOC charge the public to “manage the fighting of the fires” in the Shuswap? As of today, November 2, the total expenditure is $562,541.66. This is not the final sum as the CSRD is still processing expenses. {We will update you with final numbers}.
So, how was the money spent? Travel emergency response was $3,455.65; necessary supplies $146,460.64 and salaries/wages were $412,635.37 including $279,647.84 paid in overtime for 3445.25 overtime hours.
Some bureaucrats charged the EOC hundreds of hours overtime over the 76 days boosting their salaries by more than $10,000.00 per person. The maximum paid to one individual was $ 20,414.21.
While hundreds of people lost their homes, livelihoods and businesses and hundreds of volunteers spent uncounted numbers of hours and their own resources to fight the fires and protect properties; government officials created obstacles, rules and policy that hampered the relief effort at a critical time. EOC employees took advantage of the situation making thousands of dollars in overtime pay while the public donated their hard earned money for the benefit of the community. Our government likes emergency situations giving them extra power and money of which bureaucrats are the beneficiaries. The cost is paid with public dollars and human misery.
DB, CB
