It has been alleged by Ms. Kari Knutson, and intimated by others, that I “badgered” a contractor with a resulting cost to the Town of Qualicum Beach of $4,700. This allegation is categorically untrue.
On October 30th, 2020, my Telus bill clearly shows that I received two calls FROM the contractor. At 2:24 p.m. the contractor made a 2-minute call to me to ask that he not receive copies of emails generated from the Save the Lodge website. His request was promptly honoured.
On the same day, at 8:34 p.m. I retrieved a voicemail message from the contractor. I returned his call and he asked to have his company name removed from the Save the Lodge website. That call lasted 13 minutes. Although the name of the company had been stated publicly by the Town’s CAO during an Open Council meeting and was reported by the local media, the company name was removed.
The contractor billed the town $360 for these two calls, just one of 11 line items. I do not see why the Town would be obligated to pay this charge.
On November 5th, the evening before the demolition equipment was to be brought on site, I sent an email to the contractor apprising him of a council meeting the next morning that was being called to rescind the demolition. In that email, I expressed everyone's safety was my concern. I received a polite email in return and my only other contact with the contractor was a thank you email for his compliance with the request to delay deployment of equipment.
The simple facts are these – there was nothing in my actions which would oblige the Town of Qualicum Beach to pay anything. Those who suggest there was, either don’t know the facts, or are misrepresenting them.
It is my understanding the town will NOT bill me for the $4,741.78, which was billed by the contractor in addition to the $36,000 contractual fee paid for work cancelled.