The Spallumcheen Chronicle

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Spallumcheen's new mayor, Janice Brown, with three new council members will lead Spallumcheen for the next three years. With three new faces on council we should be able to see some improvements. Time will tell if it was the right joice for Spallumcheen. Good luck to the new mayor and council. Honesty and integrity will come back to the mayor's office, which was lacking under Hansma's mayoralty.

Spallumcheen Election November 19th,2011 It’s final, Mayor Will Hansma is not running again. Two candidates are for the vacant position. Dave Drew and Janice Brown aiming for the mayor’s chair.. Eight candidates for council. Election will be held on November 19^th,2011

SES Spallumcheen (South East Sector). Council changed in 2009 the Official Community Plan to allow up to 3000 houses build in the SES. Without fire protection, Water and sewer, it will be a very expensive development. With different economic times on hand, it will be difficult to interest investors or buyers for such land located in the SES. Having a residential development above an industrial park ( which is also not developed yet) will not draw a lot of buyers. Will be the SES just a pipe dream of Spallumcheen Council?

Spallumcheen Election 2011. Spallumcheen's 2011 municipal election will be interesting. Mayor Will Hansma has not filed his nomination papers yet. Investigations of alleged election fraud in Spallumcheen and other issues are almost completed? Click to continue

2011 Election Spallumcheen Election. Have you considered to let your name stand for mayor or councilor?....Mayor Will Hansma indicated to run again for re-election in 2011. Why Hansma's sons could subdivide their property. Read Mayor Hansma exposed....CLICK Mayor Hansma.

Mayor Hansma exposed

In Spallumcheen. Investigations in election offence/s during municipal election in 2008? Did one of the candidate/s committed an offence? Election offences are serious offences that can result in fines of up to $10,000 and imprisonment for up to two years. A person convicted of this type of offence can also be disqualified from holding office in a local government and from voting in local government elections anywhere in the province for up to six years. Candidates, campaign organizers, and elector organizations—and individuals working on their behalf—should be careful not to commit any of these offences. Questions arising if one of the candidates in Spallumcheen committed an election offence. Perjury an election offence ?

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Spallumcheen Official Community Plan 2010: Spallumcheen’s Official Community Plan questionnaire and the Okanagan Advertiser, owned by Spallumcheen’s mayor Will Hansma, displayed at the same table during the IPE. Any distinction between Spallumcheen and Mayor Hansma’s newspaper ? Residents sending letters to Spallumcheen’s Municipal Hall may should send their letters direct to the Okanagan Advertiser, since it will be revealed anyway to the mayor’s paper, as it was happen just a few weeks ago. Questions remain! Should honest and good government start in the mayor's office? Does mayor Hansma using the mayor’s office for financial gain? OCP: How many people will be able to read the questionnaire. To get fair public input, Council should sent the questionnaire to the residents to get some real feedback. The South East Sector Development Plan approved in 2099, (allowing up to 3000 new houses for Spallumcheen) should be again re-visited during the OCP in 2010 review.

Skydiving School

Township of Spallumcheen NEWS: Conflict of Interest in Spallumcheen, related to a proposed airstrip / Okanagan Skydiving School? Confidenial information leaked out to Mayor Hansma’s newspaper. According to his own statement Mayor Hansma discussed the content of the letter in question with his wife in his business, the Okanagan Advertiser. Hansma stated, a reporter may overheard the conversation and called the composer of the letter 30 minutes after it was hand delivered to the Municipal Office of Spallumcheen. Why Mayor Hansma discussing private information with a taxpayer, his wife. The letter, a private letter to a third party, was copied to the Township of Spallumcheen, and it should be confidential until it will be read or released in a public council meeting. Did Mayor Hansma used the mayor’s office for private gain, providing his newspaper with confidential information, no other media received yet?

Spallumcheen Council approved an application to allow a Skydiving School to operate on Toporchak’s farm, and will forward the application to the Agriculture Land Commision for approval. Two delegation were scheduled to speak against the application, and allowed to speak, after council approved the application. Public input was again shafted by Spallumcheen Council. Councillor Chistine Fraser allowed herself to be present to support the application, but left the meeting after the application was approved.

Hansma, s small town mayor, can hang on to his $55,000+job

Township of Spallumcheen Will Hansma, a small town mayor, can hang on to his $55,000 + job. After a troubled year of Conflict of Interest allegations, Hanmsa, will continue to enjoy remuneration for Mayor and Regional District Director duties a yearly income in range of $55,000.+ Most of that income is not taxable. A Spallumcheen farmer/resident have to earn almost $75,000+ to match Hansma’s income. Keeping in mind that Spallumcheen Council has only one Public Council Meeting a month, the small town mayor get's a big reward.

Township of Spallumcheen: Mayor Hansma, another Conflict of Interest battle on his plate, or poor judgement on Hansma’s part? Since April 2009 Hansma owns the local newspaper, the former Armstrong Advertiser, now renamed to Okanagan Advertiser. After that time he, Hansma, participated in discussions and voted on, resulting in advertisement for his newspaper. Could that be a conflict of Interest? Hansma’s newspaper received paid advertisement, paid by Spallumcheen’s taxpayers. What constitutes Conflict of Interest?

Township of Spallumcheen NEWS: Spallumcheen mayor Will Hansma has won again in the effort to prove he's not in conflict of interest. A group of 39 residents had challenged that, beginning with a BC Supreme Court action in 2008 alledging the conflict over he and his sons having property involved in a rezoning. They lost last July, then went to BC Court of Appeal. Today the appeal was dismissed. Madam Justice Saunders says in the ruling there was no evidence of Hansma having a direct or indirect pecuniary (financial) interest in the bylaw, and there was no basis at all to remove him from his elected office. Readers should be advised, that Spallumcheen Council has approved, in the spring of 2009, the subdivision for his sons. Conflict of Interest seen by the Public. "An elected official should not participate in any discussions which could may result in some financial benefit for himself, spouse, children or close relative, business associates etc." The Hansma ruling may not the best ruling for everyone involved today or the future. It’s again a gamble with words or phrases as we have seen many times over and over again.

Township of Spallumcheen, SES, The Southeast Sector OCP amendment of 2009, should be part of the new Official Community Plan review. Many Spallumcheen residents are concerned to see 3000 new homes build at the SES. Newly elected Coun. Fraser supports this new development. Fraser’s family owns land in the new development. Fraser supports controlled growth for Spallumcheen. Does this development, the largest development in the entire Okanagan represent controlled growth? Bylaw 1744, July 2009 2010 will be also an interesting year for Mayor Hansma. Residents of Spallumcheen waiting to be successful to appeal Hansma’s Conflict of Interest verdict. Mayor Will (Wybren Jan)Hansma was the first Mayor in Spallumcheen challenged by Spallumcheen residents in the Supreme Court of British Columbia for Conflict of Interest. Justice Peter Rogers ruled that Hansma was not in Conflict of Interest. The residents could not proof that financial gain of Hansma’s sons benefited Mayor Hansma? In other jurisdictions such Ontario, the pecuniary interest of family members are deemed to be those of councillors for the purpose f conflict of interest legislation, so evidence of such an interest is not required.

Spallumcheen council violated their own bylaw for more than 12 months? Spallumcheen Council will held only ONE public council meeting a month. Bylaw 1677 to amend Council Procedure Bylaw 1677 and change to, only one public council meeting a month. 5. (2) (a) be held on the first Monday of each month;

Christine Fraser, Spallumcheen’s newest councillor, was sworn in by administrator Lynda Shykora, and blessed by Pastor Bruce Brown of Glad Tidings Church. Her election to the vacant councillor seat raises some questions. She, Fraser, promoted lower taxes by supporting controlled growth, but she is a beneficiary of the largest development SES (3000 new houses). Did she, Fraser, violate the Election act? Time will tell. Mayor Will (Wybren Jan) Hansma waiting to be discharged from his alleged conflict of interest charges. 39 residents of Spallumcheen appealed the ruling of Judge Rogers, which released Hansma of conflict of interest charges.

Mayor Hansma's Conflict Before Appeal Court. Mayor's Conflict Ruling Appealed Justice Peter Rogers ruled there was no conflict. Hansma "I was a little disappointed, but they have the right to appeal and I've got full confidence in James Cotter of Nixon Wenger (his lawyer) and confidence in the judicial system." Honesty and integrity may not in Hansma’s vocabulary. The upset residents claim the mayor was in a conflict because his sons were property owners in an area affected by a change to the official community plan.

There could be another problem coming up for Mayor Hansma. B.C. Supreme Court Justice Laura Gerow ruled in late May that Coleridge "participated in the creation of a fictitious couple", which sent e-mails before the 2008 election smearing his opponents. During the last election Mayor Hansma did the same to one of his opponents.

Mayor Will Hansma legal trouble may not over yet. Mayor Hansma cleared, lawyer targets appeal.. Mayor Hansma may can triumph for the moment, but we don’t know how long it will last. Are there other charges looming, who knows? Hansma’s believes that there is no opportunity for an appeal. This will be decided by the petitioners and not by Hansma. Hansma statement "This can’t continue" reflects again his arrogance. Did Mayor Hansma’s credibility improved with Justice Peter Rogers findings? "Just because its law doesn't make it right." ETHICAL CONDUCT Community Charter, BC

Mayor of Spallumcheen Will Hansma Will (Wybren Jan) Hansma has been cleared of conflict of interest allegations, made by a group of 39 residents. The residents argued Hansma should have stepped aside during council's discussion of a 2008 bylaw to amend the Official Community Plan because he and his sons had property affected by it.

Mayor Will Hansma was before a judge on Tuesday June 16,2009 trying to keep his job. The Supreme Court judge late summer or early September will decide Mayor Hansma political future. If found guilty of Conflict of Interest, Hansma could loose his job as Mayor of Spallumcheen. Mayor Will Hansma in Conflict?

Mayor Hansma, almost for 10 years in office, should know better. Why he, Hansma, put himself and Spallumcheen in a situation like that. Conflict of Interest it’s defined in the Community Charter. "A member must also declare a conflict if he or she has some other, non-pecuniary type of interest that places the person in a conflict position (e.g., bias). This could include any benefit obtained by relations, close friends, or associates of a member who is in conflict. Examples may include a rezoning application by a relative or close personal friend or a business license decision involving a competitor business to one operated by a close friend. "

After several delays, Mayor Will (Wybren Jan) Hansma’s Conflict of Interest hearing is scheduled for June 2009. 39 Spallumcheen residents have filed on October 6th,2008 Conflict of Interest charges against Mayor Will (Wybren Jan) Hansma in the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

"SES" The new Spallumcheen City? "SES" The new Spallumcheen City? During the last municipal election Spallumcheen Mayor Will Hansma and elected council members promised a comprehensive Official Community Plan review in 2009.

Ironically this review will take place after major Offical Community Plan Amendments will take place. Again a step to change rural Spallumcheen. Do we like to be like Surrey, Delta or Kelowna? Click on picture to continue. The new OCP amendent bylaw 1744 was approved by Spallumcheen council on Monday May 11th, 2009. The "SES" development may will take many years, until a developer will be able to satisfy requirements outlined in the Southeast Sector Plan, prepared by Urban Systems.

Mayor Hansma's sons allowed to rezone. Controversial OCP and Zoning amendment , Controversial OCP and Zoning amendment approved by Spallumcheen council. Spallumcheen council approved on Monady May 4th,2009 a controversial property, owned by Mayor Hansma two sons, to be rezoned to smallholdings. It will set a dangerous precedence, and could allow almost 150 other properties in Spallumcheen to be subdivided. The Development Services Manager did not supported this application due to substandard conditions of the road network and a lack of information pertaining to the water servicing capacities. But Spallumcheen council went ahead and approved the application.

39 Spallumcheen residents have filed Conflict of Interest charges against Mayor Will (Wybren Jan) Hansma in the Supreme Court of British Columbia. A Conflict of Interest hearing is scheduled for June 2009. Mayor Will Hansma is being sued by residents of Spallumcheen who charge that he was in conflict of interest in regard to the process involved with a proposed official community plan amendment to change the zoning of property in the township, which would allow Mayor Hansma sons to subdivide their property.