Two minor sports teams with players from Osoyoos that have qualified for provincial championships got a little help from their friends at town hall on Monday.

Town of Osoyoos council voted unanimously in favour of donating $500 to both the South Okanagan Minor Hockey Association (SOMHA) Thunder Bantams and the Osoyoos Rattlers Senior Boy’s basketball team.

The Thunder Bantams are leaving this weekend for Smithers, B.C. where they will be competing in the B.C. Hockey Tier 3 Provincial Hockey Championships. Meanwhile, the Rattlers basketball team left Tuesday morning for Langley, where they will be competing in the B.C Provincial Senior Boys A Basketball Championships.

The town’s Community Service Grants policy has an area dedicated to assisting local sports teams and individuals that qualify for provincial competition. Individuals can access up to $200 and teams up to $500 should they advance to provincial tournaments.

Drag racing returns to airport runway

Drag racing fans will be pleased to know that town council has again approved a request by the Wine Country Racing Association (WCRA) to use the runway at the Osoyoos Airport for its annual series of races.

The town has provided a license to use the airport for WCRA events each of the past several years.

The WCRA has requested to use the airport again in 2016 for six race weekends, instead of the usual five.

Races will take place during the weekends of April 30-May 1; May 28-29; June 4-5; June 18-19; Sept. 24-25 and Oct. 8-9.

Members of the WCRA have agreed to pay the extra costs for liability insurance from $2 million to $5 million. The agreement with the WCRA sees the town collect 33 per cent of the net ticket sales and participant fees. The town collected more than $4,000 in fees from the WCRA during the 2015 race season, said Janette Van Vienen, the town’s director of corporate services.

Town council approves final project on 74th Avenue

Town of Osoyoos council has approved spending another $267,000 to complete the final phase of reconstruction of 74th Avenue to Main Street.

In 2014, council agreed to bring the entire length of 74th Avenue to “full urban standards” with costing for future budgets.

“This avenue is an important part of the downtown core and should be improved not only for storm water management, but also to enhance parking, pedestrian and vehicular experiences,” said Jim Dinwoodie, the town’s director of operational services, in a staff report presented to council on Monday. “This project will also complete the reconstruction of 74th Avenue from 89th Street to Main Street.”

Seven contractors presented tenders to complete this final phase to the town and the town’s consultant, True Consulting, recommended the contract be awarded to Grizzly Excavating in the amount of $267,000.

All tender amounts presented included a $15,000 contingency allowance and five per cent GST, said Dinwoodie.

The entire length of 74th Avenue from 89th Street to Main Street is expected to be completed with new paving and underground infrastructure completed by the end of the second week in May, he said.

Council approves new retaining wall near White Sands

Town of Osoyoos council approved spending $52,000 so a new retaining wall can be replaced from Spartan Drive to Gyro Park.

A portion of the retaining wall near the beach adjacent to the White Sands condominium project – that runs from the Osoyoos Sailing Club to the Osoyoos Museum – is collapsing and creating a safety concern.

The project was originally tendered in May of 2015, but didn’t proceed due to budgetary considerations last year. The project upgrade will also include improving pedestrian access from Spartan Drive to Gyro Park at 78th Avenue. A new concrete sidewalk with stairs, risers and hand railings will also be constructed.

True Consulting, the town’s engineering consultant, has recommended granting the contract to Sterling Consulting in the amount of $52,600.

Town council approves fire hall services contract

Town of Osoyoos council approved spending more than $196,000 to construct off-site services for the town’s new fire hall on Monday.

Six contractors tendered bids for this project and it was recommended that Superior Excavating be awarded the contract.

The contract will ensure that several new services are constructed leading to the fire hall. They include water and sewer hookups, six street light bases and 180 metres of street light ducting, completion of 250 metres of standard curb and gutter, 240 square metres of concrete sidewalk and 800 square metres of asphalt with a gravel base.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times