Cache Creek Council Interview with Lisa Dafoe

Disclaimer: This video has a terrible echo on Gareth’s’ side of the audio. However, the clear information that Council Woman Lisa has is very important despite the technical issues. With that said…

Gareth Smart sits down with local Cache Creek Council Woman Lisa Dafoe. Lisa is the current longest running councillor -- she is currently in her third term as a village representative. The topics discussed in this interview vary from current monies in the villages bank account, to the ongoing flooding issues, to the controversy with the Cache Creek Pool.

Talking about the budget and monies in villages reserves, Lisa puts things into perspective and clarifies the issue with citizens not paying their property taxes. Currently there is $50,000 in monies not paid to the village just from 2019. When asked about how the village can collect that revenue, Councillor Dafoe said that there is a way, but it is a long process that can take several years. If a household does not pay its property tax the property goes into arrears, it can be in arrears for up to three years, with each year accruing interest. In the fourth year of no payments, the village can take legal action and place the property on notice at the bank. At any point the home owners can pay the late taxes and negate any legal action taken… BUT if in the fourth year goes by with no payments, the bank can put the house up for auction, the cost of the house is simply what is owing in taxes on the property. The current homeowner still has the option to pay the taxes, but if they don’t the house is seized and given to the new buyer, and the taxes are now collected. Lisa did not comment on whether anyone is on watch for this legal action.

In regard to the ongoing issue of flooding, Lisa has said that every year a little more gets done to try and mitigate the amount of damage done by flooding. This year being the most significant in terms of work done to the creek and riverbanks of the village. This has been an issue since a flash flood that took place in 2015 that caused significant damage to the village. This year instead of being reactive the village called a state of emergency quickly, which opened funds up to get work done pro-actively. When talking about the Cache Creek Pool, Lisa stated that hope is never truly gone, but for this year the pool is closed. The decision comes from a mixture of circumstances that include failing parts at the pool, a lack of funds to keep the pool operational partially due to people not paying their property taxes and mainly for this year COVID19 made the decision a little easier. The Cache Creek Pool has been an issue ever since last year when the village announced the possibility of not having the pool for the 2020 season. A group of locals made a group to protest the possible shut down seemingly now to no avail.