Members of Town of Osoyoos council are inviting all local residents to attend a Community Project celebration that will be held at a date yet to be announced in May. The event is being held to celebrate the completion of several major infrastructure projects over the past three years, including upgrades to Gyro Park, several local washrooms and completion of infrastructure upgrades along 74th Avenue. The majority of funding for these projects came from the Resort Municipality Initiative program sponsored by the provincial government. (Photo supplied.)
When the Osoyoos Water Quality Society hosts its inaugural Lake Osoyoos Appreciation Day on the Victoria Day long weekend in late May, members of Town of Osoyoos council won’t be able to participate because many of them have already made plans.
As discussed at Monday’s committee of the whole meeting, senior administration was hoping to hold a Community Project celebration in conjunction with the Lake Osoyoos Appreciation Day on May 21.
However, when several members of council announced they had already made prior commitments and others had work commitments, council decided instead to hold a separate Community Project celebration event earlier in May.
Barry Romanko, the town’s chief administrative officer, said he will be attending an Osoyoos Waterfront Steering Committee meeting later this week and will bring up this matter and hopefully a date can be finalized for the Community Project celebration.
Mayor Sue McKortoff said she believes it’s important to invite all members of the community to this event, which will celebrate the completion of several major infrastructure projects in Osoyoos over the past couple of years.
Romanko told council that over the past three years, the Town of Osoyoos has seen substantive improvements in community infrastructure with no real celebration or acknowledgement of the community successes.
The majority of funding for these projects has come from the provincial Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) funding, which goes to 14 resort municipalities across B.C. to allow them to improve infrastructure that will lead to promoting tourism opportunities.
The Osoyoos Lake Quality Society has already announced its plans to sponsor Lake Osoyoos Appreciation Day on May 21 and senior administration thought it would be a good idea to hold its own celebration on the same day, said Romanko.
When informed that several councillors would not be able to attend on that date, McKortoff suggested holding the Community Project celebrations on another date earlier in May would be the best solution.
Some of the major capital projects that have been completed over the past 36 months include the completion of 74th Avenue, completion of Gyro Park phases 1 and 2, renovating the washrooms at Goodman Park and the Desert Sun Marina as well as installation of additional play equipment at Lions Park.
“As part of our RMI commitments, there is a need to have public acknowledgement of the facilities that have received RMI funding,” said Romanko.
Plans for the Community Project celebration include inviting local MLA Linda Larson, having Mayor McKortoff and members of council prepare hot dogs to be served to the public as well as having community leaders talk about and acknowledge the success of the RMI program, said Romanko.
McKortoff said it’s unfortunate that the Community Project celebration can’t be held on the long weekend, but she said it’s important to sponsor the event at another time.
“I think we certainly need to do something,” she said.
McKortoff said she will already be busy on May 21, as she’s invited mayor and council members from Oroville and Tonasket in Washington State to attend the opening of Market on Main and to take a tour of the town.
Coun. Jim King will be out of town, while Coun. Mike Campol, who is the director of operations at Spirit Ridge at Nk’ Mip Resort, said he would have a tough time getting away from work as the May long weekend is extremely busy at the resort.
Coun. C. J. Rhodes suggested holding the Community Project celebration in early May at a time and date where all members of council can attend.
Romanko said he would get back to council with a recommended date for this event during the next regular meeting of council on April 18.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
