Council sticks with 1.5 per cent
The Town of Oliver has effectively shut down a local business that has run afoul of zoning regulations.
Municipal Manager Tom Szalay said the roadside eatery across the highway from Tim Hortons is not a permitted use in the agricultural zone.
Szalay said the food operation run by proprietor Ron Ethier was previously licenced as a mobile vendor, not a restaurant. He noted the Town spoke jointly with Ethier and the Agricultural Land Commission over a year ago when the business first started.
They were told that a fruit stand was permitted in the Agricultural Land Reserve, but that no more than 50 per cent of the floor area could be used to sell items not grown on the farm.
“Since that conversation, it has become increasingly apparent that neither the ALC regulations nor the Town’s zoning bylaw were being complied with,” Szalay said.
Most recently, it was discovered that the building had been modified (without a permit) to accommodate a restaurant operation.
Szalay said since a restaurant is contrary to the zoning rules, the Town cannot issue a building permit or licence for such an operation, unless the property is rezoned.
Ethier confirmed that the Town shut his operation down.
“It’s infringing on my freedom. Who am I hurting there?”
Ethier acknowledged that the Town issued him a licence for his mobile operation, which eventually worked its way into the building on site.
The businessman noted that he has to follow two sets of rules on the property – the Town’s and the land commision’s.
Ethier said he’s not going to fight with the Town, but merely “go with the flow.” He plans to move his operation (takeout pizza) into the former Action Plumbing building downtown.
He noted the move is costing him a lot of time and money, but he’s being positive about starting a new business venture downtown.
Council approves priorities
Town council has given the nod to a number of strategic priorities as it plans for the future.
The current focus is working on a dozen in-progress items, including the following:
Recycling contract changes with Multi-Materials BC
Frank Venables Theatre governance and operating agreement
Back-up sewer treatment agreement with the Osoyoos Indian Band
Phase 3 water-twinning completion this spring
Buchanan Road well and river crossing
Water regulations bylaw consolidation
Zoning bylaw adoption in mid-2014
Riverside east trail completion
Oliver promotional guide to attract correctional centre employees
Road capital funding strategy
Development servicing bylaw
Southwest airport electrical service extension
The next set of corporate priorities will be addressed as time permits. They include: development cost charge bylaw review; municipal manager succession; Miller Road driveway restoration; determining future of the Community Services Building; and Riverside park east side dyke from Fairview bridge to vertical drop structure 11.
Council has also identified a number of projects for future consideration, including:
Farm irrigation (harmonizing in-town and rural parcel taxes)
November 2014 election
Collective bargaining preparation (contract expires in December)
Building Regulations Bylaw – incorporate hazardous material assessment for renovation and demolition of older buildings
Station Street land sale and development
Update Sewer Regulations Bylaw
Street light conversion to LED
Growth boundary discussion with RDOS
Bylaw enforcement policy for temporary signs
Water councillors Andre Miller and Rick Machial said the priority they are looking forward to most is finishing the water-twinning project, which began in 1993.
Miller said it was former mayor Linda Larson who started this push.
“It’s a real shining achievement for the Town,” he noted.
Mayor Ron Hovanes also listed the twinning project as his top priority.
He recalled 300 people showing up to a meeting to discuss how the project would be funded. He noted the people agreed to share the burden.
Hovanes said Oliver’s water-twinning project is even beyond the scope of what Kelowna can do with their system right now.
Councillor Larry Schwartzenberger said he’s getting excited about Oliver’s relocation (promotion) guide for newcomers.
Councillor Maureen Doerr mirrored this comment. She is also looking forward to getting tenure on the hike and bike path for a trail loop in the community.
Fellow Councillor Jack Bennest said his top priority is completing the water consolidation bylaw after years in the works.
Town approves hall expansion
Town council has approved the expenditure of $85,000 for a fire hall expansion project.
Councillor Larry Schwartzenberger informed council about the plan to expand the hall (three walls and a roof) in order to keep all firefighting equipment in one building.
Schwartzenberger said the fire department is acquiring a new forestry truck to respond to burning complaints.
The expansion is to be funded from the Joint Fire Department Reserve fund.
Schwartzenberger said the fund is in good shape due to the fire department’s diligence in recycling pumps.
Municipal Manager Tom Szalay commented that the quote came a little late in budget deliberations. He said he didn’t see this project until council saw it.
Szalay said there needs to be a proper chain of command and protocol for these budget items. He stated these requests should go through him and the finance department first, then to council, then to the funding partners (rural fire protection district).
Councillor Jack Bennest agreed these budget items should be presented to council and not in a private meeting.
Mayor Ron Hovanes said the Town has a good relationship with the rural fire protection district, but he agreed that proper protocol has to be followed in the future.
Councillor Maureen Doerr said the fire department does a great job, but sometimes she feels like council is being pressured into a decision.
Bennest said they want to set a new policy on how budgetary items are handled in the fire department.
Council agreed to have Szalay report back on such a policy.
