You will never convince Mayor Ron Hovanes that going to the UBCM convention is a waste of money.
“It’s your 15 minutes of fame . . . if you don’t go there and make an impression, you’re not going to get the dollars (that everyone else is after).”
Hovanes recently returned from the annual Union of BC Municipalities gathering in Vancouver. It’s a venue where municipal politicians plead their case for funding with government ministers and their staff.
Hovanes was the only delegate from Oliver council. His trip cost the taxpayer about $2,900, but it was well worth it, he maintained.
“If you just sit back and suggest that everything is okay, they (the provincial government) will think that everything’s okay.”
Well, driving on a road that looks like a desert lakebed is not okay. And having only two hospice care beds in the area is not okay, either.
These were two of several issues that Hovanes talked about with ministers.
He met with new Minister of Transportation Todd Stone, who listened to the mayor’s concerns about Highway 97 being in poor condition through the Town of Oliver.
Hovanes pointed out that Oliver grows the province’s premium grapes and is an agricultural destination spot. As a result, the highway takes a beating, and “crack sealant doesn’t work anymore.”
Hovanes asked the minister if Oliver could be placed in the cue for an upgrade.
The mayor also met with Interior Health officials about the need for more hospice beds in Oliver and Osoyoos. “We need six beds today, and we’ll need 10 to 18 in 2020,” Hovanes lamented.
Another meeting was scheduled with BC Attorney General Suzanne Anton regarding policing in Oliver.
Hovanes said the Ministry of Justice has offered to work with the Town as it prepares to reach the 5000 population threshold, at which time it is responsible for 70 per cent of policing costs.
Councillor Dave Mattes, who was not a delegate at the convention, sat in on this meeting with Anton. He noted the next census is 2016, and if Oliver surpasses 5000, it will begin paying the additional costs in 2018.
“Until the census is done, we won’t know.”
The mayor said data from the Oliver RCMP suggests that a full-time police officer will be required to handle the needs of the new correctional centre. However, he clarified this doesn’t mean chasing escapees.
But the big question is: who’s going to pay for this police officer since the prison is on rural land?
Hovanes said there’s an indication that Oliver will get ample policing once the facility is built, but he pointed out that “we need (more) police now.”
Another issue that Hovanes brought forward at the convention was the amalgamation of the Town of Oliver and Area C. But many questions remain unanswered, so the Town is merely exploring the idea at this point.
Mattes said the current system is not broken, and he’s not willing to spend money on a referendum. But he said amalgamating does not necessarily mean that Area C residents will pay more taxes. He pointed out that rural residents don’t pay taxes on their homes, only their properties. If they were to join the Town, they may end up paying taxes on their house, but not on their land, Mattes surmised.
He also suggested that a district municipality could give the Town the opportunity to expand the roles of its water councillors to include votes on other issues such as fire protection services.
The convention saw several interesting resolutions introduced, such as the extension of municipal election terms to four years (instead of three). Hovanes said a four-year term sounds more productive. However, the province would have the final say on this resolution.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
