Council had less than usual on its regular meeting agenda last week and it skipped its usual committee of the whole, but they made up for it with two lengthy public hearings.

Those hearings dealt with a rezoning bylaw that will allow a drive-through oil change and car wash business at Gateway Plaza (See Page 9) and several bylaw amendments pertaining to foreshore and lake zoning (See Page 4).

The regular meeting got underway with the announcement of community members of the Accessibility and Age Friendly Committee, which had previously been decided in camera.

The members are: Mike Stiles, Sally Lindley-Jones, Cheyl Wheaton, Margaret-Anne Turner and Sue Terada.

This was followed bypresentation of a 30-year pin to Jim Zakall, director of financial services, and a 35-year pin to Janette Van Vianen, director of corporate services, for their years in local government management.

In congratulating the two, Mayor Sue McKortoff said neither looked old enough.

McKortoff noted during a brief discussion of the Okanagan Basin Water Board’s September report that the milfoil control program is soon switching from harvesting to rototilling.

She also pointed to recent discussion at OBWB about invasive mussels, noting that these are not just spread by boats, but also by canoes, rafts, hipwaders and other objects going into infected waters.

Council awarded a contract to install lighting on Canal Pathway where bases were installed previously.

The contract for $12,229 was awarded to Lowther Electric.

Councillor C.J. Rhodes noted that the top two of five bidders were from Osoyoos. The other local bidder, Balogh Electric, was only slightly higher than Lowther.

A building permit report recorded more than $2.5 million in estimated value for the month of August, reaching more than $10.8 million for the year to date.

Most of the new permits were issued to Ellcar Construction for houses on Raven Court in the Richter Remainder subdivision.

Barry Romanko, Town of Osoyoos chief administrative officer reported on numerous items including improvements to Kinsman Park, the first Accessibility and Age Friendly Committee meeting on Sept. 6, election preparation, and inquiries regarding cannabis licensing.

He also commented on construction projects on Main Street and the upcoming one to realign the intersection of 89th St. and Kingfisher Drive.

He noted that the Medical Facility Feasibility draft report is scheduled to go to council on Oct. 1.

Council members mostly commented on their recent participation at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities conference in Whistler.

Attending were councillors Jim King and Carol Youngberg with Mayor McKortoff.

They met Education Minister Rob Fleming, who noted the province is working on a new funding formula, but didn’t give details. They also met the parliamentary secretary for Emergency Preparedness Minister Jennifer Rice to discuss helping smaller communities with flood prevention. And they talked to Lisa Beare, the minister of tourism, arts and culture about RMI funding.

RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times