At top, Area C director Terry Schafer is busy dealing with a new water service and compensation for members of the Willowbrook Volunteer Fire Department.
File photos
Now that he has dealt with all the snow, Terry Schafer has his hands full dealing with other issues in rural Oliver.
The Argo Road Maintenance employee and Area C director is in the thick of regional district politics.
The biggest project he’s currently working on is a new water distribution function in Willowbrook. The regional district is in the process of taking over the service from Mike Johnson.
Schafer said new water regulations and standards make operating the service quite onerous. But he admitted that a new water service in Willowbrook will be costly for residents, especially if any treatment is involved.
The other issue being reviewed in Willowbrook is compensating firefighters for the work they do.
Schafer said local firefighters are totally volunteer unlike other departments who pay their members.
“They have difficulty maintaining membership at the (Willowbrook) fire hall, so the proposal is to provide a stipend (for members).”
Schafer said firefighters should get something to cover their costs, such as fuel.
Whatever way you look at it, the department has done “amazing” things with little money it has, the director pointed out.
In the Gallagher Lake neighbourhood, Schafer is focusing his efforts on a new Community Planning Committee, which has two members so far. Rather than have haphazard development, the committee wants input from residents to see what development and services they want.
Schafer said there is the potential to see more commercial development in the area, but that’s up to the residents.
The director acknowledged that the new sewer/water service in Gallagher Lake has been a contentious issue. (Some people don’t want to hook up to the new service, saying there is nothing wrong with their existing septic fields and water source.)
“I’m not sure how the sewer issue will be resolved . . . we have to stop, back up and get people involved.”
Another issue that Schafer wants to see addressed in Gallagher Lake is pedestrian safety. He acknowledged that trying to cross the highway is a hazard, but he believes that a pedestrian-controlled light would solve the problem.
However, the Ministry of Transportation previously stated there are insufficient pedestrian volumes to warrant a marked crosswalk at Gallagher Lake Frontage Road.
However, the ministry recently installed overhead street lighting at this intersection.
In addition to seeking more members for the neighbourhood committee, Schafer is looking for candidates to serve on the Area C Advisory Planning Commission.
Water costs in rural Oliver is another issue that Schafer will be looking into since residents have been raising a concern about it.
The director says taxes will spike significantly due to Frank Venables Theatre, and he fears that other functions such as the heritage society will take a back seat.
“There will be a call to trim the (regional) budget, but there is nowhere to trim anymore.”
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
