The following are Oliver town council briefs from the March 28 meeting.
Tax burden shifting to residential
The tax burden in Oliver is shifting to the residential class.
That was council’s desire during a special budget meeting on March 28.
Chief Financial Officer Elma Hamming said part of the budget process is for council to review the tax distribution between classes (residential and business are Oliver’s primary classes).
“The growth in the residential class exceeds the relative growth of the business class and as a result the tax burden is shifting more towards residential,” she told the Times-Chronicle.
She noted that council supported the shift “because residential uses the majority of services and they wanted to continue to encourage business.”
Mayor Martin Johansen said he likes this shift to support local businesses.
Council passed a few resolutions following a review of the draft budget. The resolutions include:
• To allocate $20,000 to the grant-in-aid budget for the downtown façade improvement program.
• To allocate $15,000 to support Community Kitchen at Oliver Parks and Recreation.
• To allocate $3,400 through the COVID-19 Restart grant to fund the Emergency Services Concept of Operations development for the Oliver Airport.
• To include an additional $300,000 to account for the policing taxes formerly charged by the province.
Hamming said the bylaw will be presented at the April 11 meeting, followed by a public hearing on April 25.
Town removes vinyl reference
What’s wrong with vinyl in Oliver?
Depends on who you talk to.
But town council has removed the reference from its development permit area guidelines.
This was done after council agreed that vinyl should not be frowned upon as a building material.
The Official Community Plan amendments also address exemptions for structures that do not require building permits, but adds the requirement of permits for duplexes.
Councillor Dave Mattes was the sole opposer since he doesn’t believe that a permit should be required for building a duplex.
The bylaw has been given first and second reading and now heads for public hearing on April 11.
More Ukraine support requested
Oliver town council says it has done enough to condemn the actions of Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.
Council recently voiced its disapproval of Russia’s actions and was asked by New Denver’s village council to stand with them against Russia.
Oliver Coun. Aimee Grice said they don’t need to take further action because the Town already made its statement.
Fellow Coun. Larry Schwartzenberger suggested they simply receive and file the request.
But Coun. Petra Veintimilla said she would not support filing it without more action.
But Schwartzenberger said he did not want to write New Denver to support their resolution when Oliver already has its own.
“This letter (from New Denver) demands the immediate removal of Putin (Russia’s president) which I’m not sure is all that helpful.”
In the letter, New Denver Mayor Leonard Casley demands that Vladimir Putin be removed as the Russian leader.
It was suggested that Oliver send New Denver a copy of its own resolution.
Councillor Dave Mattes said he didn’t want to take up staff time doing anything more.
Veintimilla was the only council member opposed to the inaction.
Flag for Ukraine
Oliver council has been asked to place a Ukrainian flag at the Town Hall to show support for the country under siege by Russia.
Bogden Shpak, who was born in Ukraine but now lives in Oliver, made the request at the March 28 council meeting. “I have many friends and family in Ukraine,” he said.
Shpak pointed out that he would be happy to supply the Town with a flag.
Councillor Aimee Grice suggested flying the flag on the empty pole at the tourism centre.
Fellow Coun. Dave Mattes said the Town is already lighting its hall in blue to show support for Ukraine. But he noted that a donation of a flag would be welcome.
But Coun. Petra Veintimilla said flags and lights are nice, but noted that lots of Ukrainians need money right now due to them becoming refugees.
