Councillor candidate C.J. Rhodes gives his comments at last Tuesday’s all-candidates forum at the Sonora Community Centre. From left are moderator Veronica Vinge and other candidates Jim King, Sy Murseli, Brian Harvey, Kenny Music, Myers Bennett, Rhodes, Shelley McIntyre, Sue McKortoff and Sherani Theophilus. (Richard McGuire photo)

If the next Osoyoos town council decides to go ahead with such big-ticket items as a new town hall, a community health centre and a regional swimming pool, they may have to hope a local resident wins the lottery and donates the winnings.

That was the tongue-in-cheek suggestion from incumbent Mayor Sue McKortoff.

“I think what we need to do is win the lottery,” she said, noting the cost of these projects. “Somebody needs to win big time and donate it to the town.”

While one candidate after another professed to be fiscally prudent, several discussions at last week’s all-candidates forum dealt with these costly projects.

The forum, organized by the Osoyoos Times, and moderated by Veronica Vinge, executive director of the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce, drew an audience of more than 300 people to the Sonora Community Centre.

With strictly enforced time limits for questions and answers, candidates were able to respond to 10 audience questions on a wide range of topics. They also had time for introductory and closing statements in the two-hour forum.

All candidates for council attended except for Doug “Stone Dan” Pederson, who is running for mayor, and Jane Long, who is running as a councillor.

Pederson distrusts any forum with chamber of commerce involvement and Long said her parental and work responsibilities made her unavailable that night.

The participating candidates included three council incumbents – McKortoff and councillors Jim King and C.J. Rhodes.

But there were also several candidates who have moved to Osoyoos in the past decade: Sherani Theophilus, Brian Harvey, Shelley McIntyre and Kenny Music. Theophilus and Harvey have been living here full time since 2014 while Music has only been here since the summer. McIntyre came at the beginning of 2017.

Finally, there were two longer-term residents: Myers Bennett and Sy Murseli.

Among the question topics were:

  • How to improve economic development to ensure that Osoyoos can keep its schools open by having a population of all ages;
  • Affordable housing;
  • The proposed new town hall;
  • Accommodation for seasonal fruit pickers;
  • Public use of cannabis;
  • Opportunities for youth;
  • The proposed community health centre;
  • Crime;
  • How committed candidates are to attending council and committee meetings;
  • The proposed national park reserve.

Several major topics were not addressed, including the future of the Osoyoos Airport.

The deteriorated condition of the present town hall was highlighted in a consultant’s report brought to council in March.

That report concluded that it makes more economic sense to replace the building rather than repair it, but several candidates said they would prefer to renovate.

Rhodes acknowledged the study “is telling us that our town hall building is collapsing and may fall down at any moment,” but then he added: “I support fixing and renovating. I think that building a new facility would be my last choice.”

But then he threw out a new idea.

“I have a dream that involves the soon-to-be-available museum site on our Gyro Beach area,” he said, referring to the old Quonset building that will be vacated when the museum moves downtown in 2020.

Rhodes proposed that the location could become the site of a large convention centre, saying this is lacking in Osoyoos, and this could be combined with a town hall.

Several other candidates liked this idea, or at least supported a multiuse facility.

At the opposite end was Murseli who opposes most spending projects.

“I was opposed to the fire hall,” he said referring to the 2014 campaign. “I am opposed to a new town hall. Plan A, we should stay where we are. Plan B, we should move it here in this building (the Sonora Centre).”

Brenda Dorosz, who is running as a school board trustee, asked candidates if they would support a community health centre and walk-in clinic. Last year Dorosz led a petition campaign seeking town support for this project.

Two weeks ago, a feasibility report was presented to council showing there is a need, but also the costs will be high. Two of three preferred options would be located at or beside the former Sagebrush Lodge, which is owned by Interior Health.

The problems, said McKortoff, are that it belongs to Interior Health, that it would cost about $10 million and it would need the support of doctors and other medical professionals.

“We have to find a way to work with all of them to make sure that it is going to be viable,” she said.

Theophilus and Music both attended the consultant’s presentation to council.

“I absolutely support a walk-in clinic in town,” said Theophilus.

She added that for chronic cases that have to be taken care of regularly and for urgent, but not emergency care, this would be more appropriate than then emergency department in Oliver.

Music said he was quite shocked when he came to Osoyoos to learn there was no walk-in clinic.

“I think it’s pretty clear that it’s probably one of the most important issues for this community,” he said. “I’m very anxious to see the next council maintaining the momentum of the feasibility of this centre here in Osoyoos.”

King noted his support for a regional swimming pool during the discussion of opportunities for youth.

Video of the forum can be seen at here. Viewers can choose to watch the entire two hours or they can select only the topics that interest them.

RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times

https://youtu.be/RP9BRZaFdMs

Councillor candidate C.J. Rhodes gives his comments at last Tuesday’s all-candidates forum at the Sonora Community Centre. From left are moderator Veronica Vinge and other candidates Jim King, Sy Murseli, Brian Harvey, Kenny Music, Myers Bennett, Rhodes, Shelley McIntyre, Sue McKortoff and Sherani Theophilus. (Richard McGuire photo)

Councillor candidate C.J. Rhodes gives his comments at last Tuesday’s all-candidates forum at the Sonora Community Centre. From left Myers Bennett, Rhodes, and Shelley McIntyre,. (Richard McGuire photo)