The Osoyoos Traditional Archery School has been given permission to use its current site on Strawberry Creek Road near the town’s industrial park for the next three years.
For the past two years, the local archery club, which was founded by Brock Paton several years ago, was granted a license to use the lands located at 11600 Strawberry Creek Road.
Paton had asked council to support requesting the use of the lands for a period of two to three years, which council unanimously supported on Monday.
A staff report suggested the land in question should change its zoning requirements as it’s currently zoned industrial.
However, council decided to extend the land lease with the archery school if Paton agreed their deal with the town would be null and void if the land in question was ever needed for industrial use.
The town will provide 30 days notice to the archery club and its members if the land were needed for industrial use in the future.
The archery club also agreed to provide $5 million in liability insurance.
The archery school has paid $250 for use of this land in the previous two terms and there is no recommendation to change that amount.
Coun. C. J. Rhodes said the local archery club has not only provided recreational opportunities to its members, but has made local citizens very proud as Paton has captured numerous and provincial championships over the past several years.
Club member Sarah Martin also captured a provincial championship last year and also became the Canadian national women’s champion in 3-D longbow shooting. She and Paton have both been named to Canada’s national team and are preparing to compete at the world championships in Europe in August.
Drag racing will continue at Osoyoos airport in 2015
Drag racing fans will be pleased to know that town council has again approved allowing the Osoyoos Airport runway to be used for several racing events organized by the Wine Country Racing Association (WCRA).
The race days scheduled for the 2015 season include May 23-24, June 6-7, June 20-21, Sept. 26-27 and Oct. 10-11.
The board of directors with the WCRA will pay for the slight increase to raise its insurance liability from the current $2 million to $5 million before the 2015 race season begins.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
