Dear editor,
A letter to the Concerned Citizens of the Hamlet of Mulhurst Bay :
You try to present yourself as the protectors of Mulhurst Bay and say you have no concern with RV use for family events. You say you’re confused as to why we are upset, yet your actions have made it so hundreds, if not thousands, of folks, including permanent residents, can no longer host more than one RV guest at a time and hundreds of families can no longer stay overnight at their family retreats. Do you not realize this affects the entire County of Wetaskiwin? What part of this is confusing to you?
If we aren’t the cause of this, why systematically target us? Taking photos, counting RVs and registering complaints with the County demanding action including unprecedented proactive enforcement?! Curious that you didn’t you target your clearly non-compliant next-door neighbours?
You try to marginalize and minimize us as “a couple of dozen individuals” who only come out to the “lake” a couple times a month to use our RVs. News flash, we pay taxes, shop locally and attend and support many community events. You may want us gone, but we believe the majority of people have no problem with RVs, many own their own, regularly have guests out and don’t appreciate how you’ve eliminated that option going forward.
You say we’ve ignored the rules. My family followed the rules that were there in 1979, the only restrictions being no mobile homes or subdividing. It’s not so simple, the by-law has changed and the County didn’t effectively notify people at the time or enforce this by-law until you came along. I think they wisely didn’t want to open up this can of worms.
I think the CCM, realtors, contractors etc., hope to profit on a glut of low priced properties. Free enterprise shouldn’t be at your neighbour’s expense. Mulhurst isn’t just an investment opportunity, it’s a perfect place for families and friends to get together and relax, or it was before the CCM screwed that all up.
You’ve bullied RV owners. You’ve caused a lot of tears. We aren't garbage that needs to be “cleaned up”. We aren’t commercial operations. We respect and have a vested interest in the community we love. Who do you think you are ? If you don’t like it here, why did you move in three years ago? Do you have no regard for your neighbours ? Shame on you!
Dean Oliver, Sherwood Park