Oliver council is meeting this month to work on its priority list for 2013 and beyond. Until then, some municipal leaders are gazing into their crystal balls.
Mayor Ron Hovanes said there are a number of items he would like to see more progress on. These include:
– Enhancing the partnership with School District 53. The completion of the new school will come with the shared responsibility of community space.
– Seeing work on the new corrections site
– Having the Town and the RCMP work together to be proactive in addressing concerns with seasonal workers
– Introduce “coffee with the mayor” opportunities to hear from the community
– Host a youth forum to encourage their participation
– Work with council to continue to make Oliver even more business friendly (with incentives and zoning changes)
– Continue to lobby senior levels of government to complete water twinning
– Effectively use the hotel market study to attract an accommodation provider
– Continue to foster strong partnerships with Area C, provincial, federal and neighbouring governments.
Hovanes said 2012 was a very optimistic year. For example, the Town had new jobs (Structurlam) come to Oliver, as well as the high school rebuild project, the corrections facility announcement, and new residents who moved into the community.
“We had a gift of a new performing stage at the community centre, and most recently we acquired tenure over the northeast section of the river dike where we can now go forward and pave it with the grant money we received last year.”
The mayor said it is his wish that council will continue to support celebrating the community. “Our past has been remarkable and our future looks even brighter.”
Councillor Dave Mattes admitted he doesn’t make resolutions a habit because they are often forgotten as the year progresses.
“My personal goals have not changed since the election; keep taxes as low as possible in our poor economy and improve Oliver as a business friendly town.”
Mattes said he wants to maintain and build on the amenities the Town has in order to attract people to the community.
“I am sure council will be looking at ways of getting our hotel study into the right hands, and we need to begin to market ourselves to the staff and management of the new prison as it moves forward.”
Councillor Jack Bennest said economic development is his first resolution for 2013. He noted council has adopted a number of items, such as a hotel study and a new economic development zone, which he plans to lead discussion on.
His second resolution is to get a legal description of parkland next to the bridge. “Council has resolved to push forward with this idea and I intend to lead on this issue.”
Councillor Linda Larson said her top priority is to get business building incentives in place as quickly as possible. (This is the bylaw that holds off on tax increases based on improvements.)
She is also anticipating the reconfiguration of Centennial RV Park to designate public park space at the south end. In addition, Larson would like to secure an interested builder to establish a much-needed hotel in Oliver.
“I will be very happy if those three things are done within the first six months of 2013.”
For Councillor Maureen Doerr, it has been a huge learning curve since she was elected a year ago.
“What I have noticed is that things do not move as fast as I would like, so patience has become a new virtue.”
Doerr said Oliver needs growth, especially commercial growth, which in turn creates a vibrant community.
“It has been sad to see a few businesses close due to lack of business. I encourage everyone to walk your town and know what is available and shop local first.”
The councillor noted that Oliver consists of small businesses run by local people who believe strongly in their community. She recognized all of the service groups who work so hard to make Oliver a great community.
Doerr said she is proud of the new zoning bylaw, especially the C3 (downtown centre) zone that allows business to rebuild on their existing footprint with relaxed requirements, such as parking. “It was a big victory for the business association.”
Doerr said she is looking forward to marketing the Town’s recently completed hotel study, which outlines what Oliver has to offer and how beneficial it is for any private or chain hotel to come here.
“I had a conversation with someone in the hotel industry, who works for a very large worldwide chain, and she said that Oliver is a diamond in the rough.”
The councillor said she is also anticipating working with the airport committee on recommendations put forward in the airport study.
“This is a strong asset to the community as a whole and we need to cultivate it, encouraging growth from business to expansion of the runway. It would be a shame to see a study done and then put on the shelf.”
Doerr acknowledged the study includes expensive ventures, but the recommendations should be studied and pursued in a financially accountable manner.
Doerr also wants to complete the tax incentive program to encourage and revitalize growth. “We hope with this new incentive program, businesses will look to Oliver as a viable option.”
