CHOOSE NEXT MAYOR WISELY

Editor:

In the civic election 2008, I would hope that the residents and taxpayers of Osoyoos would carefully consider their choice when voting for the mayor's chair.

Do we really want a mayor who is not a resident of the Town of Osoyoos in the mayor's position?

Also, why would we commit our tax dollars to an aquatic centre at Willow Beach?

Any tax dollars should be spent in the town boundaries.

I thought that the wetlands at the north end of the lake were to be saved, not build more structures on them.

We really do not need an aquatic centre at all.

If built, the operating costs would be very high.

Let's keep Osoyoos tax dollars in town.

John Jelich,rnOsoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-November 5, 2008

TRAFFIC ISSUES IN OSOYOOS ARE SHAMEFUL

Editor:

The traffic situation in Osoyoos is deplorable and driving habits are getting worse.

Someone is going to get seriously injured.

It's time our town council took a good hard look at it, and saying this it would be incumbent on us, the voters, to ask those who are running for office what they think and what their solutions could/would be?

What about forming commissionaires with the power to write (warning?) tickets for minor infractions like jaywalking, u-turns on Main Street, cross-walk infractions, etc.

Cases in point:

-When stopping at a crosswalk to let pedestrians cross, cars will attempt to pass on the right side of the stopped car, putting the lives of the pedestrians in jeopardy. SHAME!

-I was riding my hog (licensed scooter) to the golf course. I stopped at a crosswalk on motel row to let a young couple with a baby stroller cross to the walkway. I stopped 20 feet from the crosswalk to show I would stop. From the bridge direction a car was 50-plus feet away but didn't stop, the pedestrians had to. SHAME!

-We have a traffic light with a left-turn arrow, but no marked left-turn lane and straight forward lane. All the traffic ends up in the same lane. SHAME!

-Main Street (motel row to the traffic light) is a wide street with parking areas on both sides. We find not only our visitors, but also our residents use the parking lanes to drive on (at 10 km/hr) until they have to swerve to miss the parked cars and then turn right into the highway traffic that has no idea what those drivers are going to do next. SHAME!

-There appears to be some mystical force that disengages the turn signals on practically all cars in Osoyoos¦ we never know where a driver is going until we can see the whites of their eyes. SHAME!

-On my hog, I seem to become invisible, as people are so busy talking on their cellphones, petting their dogs, etc. SHAME!

-When I pass a side road (on my hog) with a stop sign, I have to be ever vigilant as it appears that in Osoyoos, if you approach a stop sign and there are no CARS coming, you don't have to stop. SHAME!

Prospective counsellors, it's time to shift the focus from development at any cost to the needs and well-being of the good citizens of Osoyoos!

Fred Cawdell,rnOsoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-November 5, 2008

CANDIDATES' DEVELOPMENT VIEWS SHOULD BE QUESTIONED

Editor:

Re: Candidates for mayor and council

Many of us feel that in the past far too much effort has been put into increasing the tax base.

This perspective has resulted in the overabundance of condos in Osoyoos.

There are very few people who benefit from the increase in condos “ granted it creates a few construction jobs lasting a year or two (most of which are filled by out-of-towners.)

Also created are some jobs catering to the tourist trade, e.g. waitress, chambermaid.

These jobs are often minimum wage with no benefits.

They cannot support a family.

The main people who benefit from a building boom are those who run businesses or have property they wish to sell.

These people may not represent the wishes of the other 95 per cent of us who may feel this building boom is more of a hindrance than a benefit, e.g. difficulty in finding parking downtown, blocking of lake views, crowding of beaches, higher taxes on lakefront property, etc.

If this continues, soon there will be a problem with too many boats on the lake (as in Invermere), shortage of water, etc.

Whether or not this building boom continues depends entirely on whom we elect to represent us.

I feel that each of us who feel that a building boom is a detriment to the lives of the people in the town should question each candidate as to whether he will support more condo construction or not and insist on a straightforward answer.

If we do not elect representatives who actually represent the wishes of the majority, we will lose our lovely, little, quiet town forever.

David Anison,rnOsoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-November 5, 2008

LAND PURCHASE IN WEST OSOYOOS RAISES QUESTIONS

Editor:

There seems to be a lot of talk in town regarding our present council, that being: Mr. Slater and crew, spending our hard earned reserved tax dollars in the tune of millions, to purchase a piece of property behind the NAPA residence on Highway 97 and 74th, also known as the Richter premises.

Apparently, it is their intention to develop a new fire hall and other facilities in that area, this action raises a few interesting questions.

Firstly: Why do we need another fire hall on this side of the lake?

Secondly: Who gave our council permission to spend our last reserved tax dollars in an investment like this?

Thirdly: Why NOT use our tax dollars:

-to develop the downtown core

-to improve the lake quality

-upgrade our drinking water, so we can at least drink it.

Also, this action would definitely allow anyone in the surrounding neighbourhood to capitalize on this action.

Guess what, our present mayor resides very close to the Richter property.

This action initiated by the present mayor and town council seems to want to move our town core away from Main Street.

I certainly would not want this to happen and I feel that I would have appreciated some input into this kind of use of my hard earned cash.

Where there's smoke, there's fire?

J. Pistone,rnOsoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-November 5, 2008

HELP NEEDED TO RENOVATE OLIVER AUDITORIUM

Editor:

Over the past two years, School District 53 has held numerous meetings with the Town of Oliver, RDOS and community groups to bring understanding to the SOSS reno/rebuild process as well as address restoration of the auditorium – which the Ministry of Education will not fund.

As many auditorium users, participants and alumni live in the Town of Osoyoos and rural area, the Board wanted to inform you of the process to date and how you may help.

In September 2006, the Board made application to the School Community Connections Program for a grant to complete a feasibility study on the auditorium.

Having received $25,000, the Board brought together specialists, the above partners and user groups to develop a list of code requirements, high, medium and low priorities all believed were needed for the upgrade.

In reviewing feedback, the Board moved one of the 22 modules (a Fine Arts one) allocated for the reno/rebuild of SOSS to the auditorium.

The module covers approximately 402 square feet while the auditorium tops up at almost 900 square feet.

Although this will help, for the stage area only and with about $500,000 in funds, the remaining space will still not be funded nor upgraded.

This past summer, the Board recognized the value of the Pen Hi auditorium seats and when a request for proposal came out, placed a bid on them.

Of similar vintage and recently refurbished, the seats are an excellent 'fit' for Frank Venables.

Now installed, they have given 'new' life to this 60-year-old facility.

As part of the third phase of the School Community Connection Program, the Board has applied for $120,000.

The program has clearly informed the Board that it can not provide matching funds, but rather they must come from community partners “ the Town and RDOS¦ hence the November 15th referendum borrowing question for $3.8 million (the maximum the Town and RDOS may borrow if approved.)

There is always much passion around the arts and the Board believes our communities not only want to save the auditorium, but upgrade it to a level which will allow better and expanded use for many years to come.

To kick off community support and build understanding, the Board has facilitated an 'Adopt a Seat' Campaign.
Any funds raised will continue to reduce the renovation costs.

If you would like to participate in supporting the auditorium, you may 'purchase' a seat. More information on this will be forthcoming from the committee chair” Mr. Martin Cattermole” over the coming weeks.

Juleen McElgunn,rnSuperintendent, School District 53

OSOYOOS TIMES-November 5, 2008