The Town of Oliver says it shouldn’t have to pay to help maintain the Okanagan River trail system in Penticton.

Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes has written a letter to the regional district outlining council’s opposition to a recent decision at the board table.

The board pledged to partner with the City of Penticton and the Penticton Indian Band to maintain the trail along the Channel Parkway.

Board chair Mark Pendergraft said the walkway is a critical portion of the Kettle Valley Railway trail system, linking communities within the Okanagan.

The trail in Penticton is owned by the Indian band, which introduced a $2 per person fee to recover some of the maintenance costs. But this fee was cancelled after negative feedback from the public.

Hovanes said the channel walkway is not a regional trail, and the regional district does not have tenure over it. Therefore, the board does not have the authority, nor is it appropriate to use regional parks and trails funding to maintain it.

Hovanes said the same argument to cost-share was made years ago and soundly defeated at the board.

“The board has now set a precedent for the RDOS to provide financial assistance to maintain other sub-regional services through a regional budget.”

Hovanes suggested that funding would be better suited from an economic development fund established between rural areas adjoining the channel and the city.

Hovanes pointed out that Oliver has tourists that come from all over the world to enjoy the hike and bike path. Some of these people stay in neighbouring communities such as Penticton. But the Town of Oliver and the Osoyoos Indian Band consider this as an economic benefit to the local area and take on the responsibility for maintaining the trail system, Hovanes said.

Councillor Jack Bennest said perhaps Oliver should look at billing the RDOS for the cost of maintaining the hike and bike path.

Bennest wondered how many people use the Penticton trail compared to the walkway in Oliver.

The RDOS decision will see taxpayers from surrounding communities chip in to the trail maintenance pot, which will cost $14,000 annually.

Osoyoos town councillor C.J. Rhodes said smaller communities like Oliver and Osoyoos have worked very hard to improve their trail systems and would never ask the RDOS or taxpayers from other areas to help pay those costs.

“There was a decision that was made (at the RDOS board) that was wrong and inappropriate,” Rhodes said.

Osoyoos Mayor Stu Wells told the Osoyoos Times that the current makeup of the board is unfair as the City of Penticton gets 18 out of 53 votes on all RDOS matters.

The Town of Oliver gets three votes.

 

Lyonel Doherty

Oliver Chronicle