"I am very disappointed with their public statements that contradict their involvement," said Farmer. "If I could remove them (from the extension) I would, but I cannot do that without hurting other people (wanting to annex in to Sooke."

The bitterness from council was also directed at SARA members as Coun. Lorna Barry accused the citizen group of harsh tactics while gathering petition signatures and implying a "total lack of trust," in chief administrative officer Peter Jmaeff because Margaret Stephen - SARA treasurer and wife of Coun. John Stephen - took a photo of the petitions being dropped off.

"I never thought I would see that type of behaviour in Sooke," said Barry.

Jen Smith, president of SARA, said the group was taking the photograph to show off what they accomplished by gathering more than the required 725 signatures to send the extension issue to voters.

Smith added her group believes voters rather than council members should make decisions on large-scale topics in the district.

"It is wrong that the council would go ahead on important issues," said Smith.

She said the group's petitions asked council to drop the boundary extensions, or as a last resort send the matter for a vote of the people. The actual petition circulated on SARA's website, however, asks the choice, "be submitted to the electors of the District of Sooke for assent(referendum), should the District of Sooke intend to pursue this extension."

People marched to the council podium to state their pleasure or disapproval with the boundary extensions going to voters. Many of the comments turned personal, including attacks and accusations of lying and misrepresenting truths in public statements.

"I knew the facts being presented were not true, some of them," said Sheila Beech about a presentation a few days earlier at the Otter Point & Shirley Residents & Ratepayers Association meeting.

Beech, who is running for council, went on to claim SARA members cost the district $400,000 by forcing a vote on the extension issue and a previous $3.8 million when the February 2005 amalgamation vote failed.

"Eventually we will be able to blame them for the high taxes," said Beech.

Her comments drew boos from people in the council meeting audience and a rebuttal from OSPRRA vice president Arnie Campbell who took offence to Beech's claims of lies at the meeting.

Brian Butler, who has a large property in the west extension zone, told council, "I almost want to apologize for the problems that have been caused by my actions. The reaction to this is way out of proportion to its importance." He added he feels there is a great deal of misinformation going around about the issue.

"Is there a forum to get true facts out rather than working with innuendo?" he asked.

Smith asked council for a town hall meeting format - as she said SARA members have requested for many Sooke-based issues - so people can hear all questions and answers in one location at one time. Evans indicated that was a possibility.

Council did hold an open house on the boundary extension issue last month. About 40 people attended. The district also sent out two newsletters on the topic - the first one needing a correction because it failed to include the notice that separate petitions needed to be submitted for the east and west extensions if voters wanted a say in the matter.

After the meeting, Evans said the property owners who asked the district to accept them in to Sooke need to take control of the issue for the Nov. 19 election.

"If people want it they have to sell it to the public." said Evans.

© Copyright 2005 Sooke News Mirror