Council formally adopts financial bylaws

Council formally adopted several important financial bylaws at Monday’s meeting, including the five-year financial plan, water rates and waste management fees.

Council also approved a four-year business plan covering many capital improvements for the period from 2018-2021. This covers improvements to parks, roads, water and sewer and priority operations projects.

The five-year financial plan establishes this year’s budget and sets a 2.93 per cent property tax increase. It also establishes the town’s budget for operating expenses and community services.

The plan also sets out estimates for later years to 2021.

The Water Rates and Regulations amendment bylaw increases water user fees by $13.42 for a single-family residence and by four per cent for other users.

The 2018 water rate for a single family home is $348.96, which is roughly $70 less than in Oliver.

The Waste Management Services and Regulations amendment bylaw increases garbage and recycling fees by three per cent to $134 in 2018.

These bylaws were already approved for three readings at the March 5 council meeting and received extensive public consultation and council debate previously.

There was an extensive report in the Feb. 28 Osoyoos Times and full details are available on the Town of Osoyoos website.

Council approves $65,000 in grants to community non-profit groups

Town council has approved nearly $65,000 in community service grants to 21 local non-profit organizations.

The town received more than 25 applications and more than $100,000 in grant requests, though some of those turned down were not non-profit.

Most did not receive the full amount they requested.

Town staff and councillors Mike Campol and Jim King assessed the applications.

“I’m really comfortable with the way we allocated the funds,” Campol said when the issue was discussed at council’s committee of the whole meeting on Monday.

“I wish we had $150,000 to give out,” Campol continued, adding that the requests were reasonable. “These are tough decisions to make when we’re looking at splitting up the pie.”

Among the larger grants were $6,500 to the Osoyoos Festival Society, $6,000 for Canada Day Fireworks, $5,000 for the Osoyoos Ambassador Committee and $4,000 for the archery program.

Other grants ranged from $1,000 to $3,500 and went to the Osoyoos Elks Senior Citizens Society, high school bursaries, Osoyoos Elks Lodge, International Curling Club, Royal Canadian Legion, Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society, Desert Valley Hospice Society, Osoyoos Gift Cupboard, Osoyoos Pickleball Club, South Okanagan Integrated Community Services, Osoyoos Elementary School Parent Advisory Council, Desert Park Exhibition Society, Osoyoos Minor Baseball, Osoyoos Lake Paddle Club, Osoyoos Secondary School, McKinney Nordic Ski Club, and 232 Bighorn Air Cadet Squadron.

Town moves to establish accessibility committee

The town is moving forward with establishing an Accessibility Committee.

The committee will provide advice on issues dealing with improvements to town facilities to make them more accessible to people with disabilities.

It could also be involved in monitoring an “age-friendly” project once the town receives designation as an age-friendly community.

A report from Gerald Davis, director of community services, suggests the committee could include public citizens, town staff, council members and Destination Osoyoos.

Coun. Mike Campol suggested the community should include someone from the development and construction industry, who could provide realistic information on costing, as well as someone representing physical and mental health disabilities who can advise on needs.

Davis said he would be willing to chair the committee.

Council agreed at its Monday meeting to direct town staff to develop terms of reference and to limit the size to a maximum of eight members, not including town staff, who would attend when needed.

RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times