Open house updates public on proposed boundary expansion

The public was invited to an open house at the Sonora Centre last Tuesday to view the Town of Osoyoos' proposed boundary extension project.
Affected property owners within the proposed boundaries will be asked to decide if they wish to join the town.
The boundary extension involves amalgamating into the town five possible areas.
The northwest extension would bring in Lacey Point to Willow Beach along Osoyoos Lake; the southwest extension would bring in Haynes Point to the U.S. Border; the northeast extension would take in the East Bench; and the southeast extension would take in the Lakeshore Drive extension to the U.S. Border. A fifth extension would include a portion of Kruger Mountain.
The total area absorbed by the town, if all areas agreed to join, would amount to 1,093 hectares, or 2,698 acres.
According to the Town of Osoyoos, the reason for the proposed expansion is to answer requests by some residents for provision of municipal services to their properties (for example, water and sewer).
The Town of Osoyoos commissioned a study by Urban Systems in order to:rn-determine the impact boundary expansion will have on the proposed areas
-assess the impact on the town's existing infrastructure
-inform and consult with affected residents and property owners.
Most people at the open house were there to gather more information before making a decision either way.
On hand to answer questions were Osoyoos town councillors and representatives from Urban Systems.
We've had a good turnout today and people were pleased with the amount of information we presented, said Urban Systems' Dave Morris.
This is just a preliminary step so people can get information and think about the issue.
We've had some good questions from the public that we need to find answers for, so we will take a few months and put together some accurate info in order to move ahead with knowledge, Morris said.
Councillor Davreux stressed that the open house was a chance for the town to ask for input from the affected area residents.
Our primary goal in bringing these areas in is to get them onto sewer and protect the lake, Davreux said.
According to the Urban Systems study, if a boundary expansion is approved, a number of things will change with respect to service delivery, while others will remain the same.
Changes would include: government administration (from Rural District staff and Regional Board to Town Council and staff), community planning, building inspection and bylaw enforcement, roads (from Ministry of Transportation to town), and water services.
Services that will stay the same include: regional parks and regional planning, regional solid waste management, regional landfill and recycling service, Sterile Insect Release program, fire protection (currently provided by town), RCMP (provided the population remains below 5,000), school, hospital, BC Assessment and MFA.
Rural Ratepayers Association Chairman Gerry Hesketh has not yet made up his mind on the boundary expansion, seeing both positive and negative impacts on becoming part of the town.
On the positive side, by joining the town, we will no longer be two separate communities. And our representation would be better if we were part of the town. The sewer hook-up would be another major positive, said Hesketh.
However, I have some concerns about future conflicts between the agricultural and the residential communities. I would not want the town to be able to dictate to the farmers. I also don't like the idea of supporting four governments: municipal, regional, provincial and federal, Hesketh added.
Hesketh noted that Osoyoos has not really received any benefits from the Regional District, adding that all the dollars have been going to Naramata and OK Falls.
Hesketh encourages all Area A residents to attend the Rural Ratepayers Association annual general meeting on Tuesday, May 10 at the Sun Bowl Arena mezzanine.
Urban Systems Associate Dave Morris and RDOS Area A Director Eike Scheffler have been invited to attend.
Hesketh said the Rural Ratepayers Association is hoping to push the town to go to a referendum on the expansion issue.
A final report will be completed and made available to the public, based on the input gathered at the open house. Residents will then decide whether or not they wish to join the town.
The town will consider boundary extension in one or more areas if a direct petition is signed by more than 50 per cent of the property owners in the area.
It is likely that a petition would be considered by the town in late 2005 or early 2006.
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B.C.'s Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services Murray Coell has advised the Town of Osoyoos that the province has approved a restructure planning grant in the amount of $25,000 as a contribution towards the cost of the boundary extensions. The grant would be paid upon completion of the expansion.
In a letter to the town, Coell noted that the potential boundary extensions include significant populations and area.
This raises the possibility that the provincial restructure assistance programs may apply. These programs can provide transitional assistance with local road and police costs, and general per capita funding assistance, Coell stated.