Terry Schafer has faced many challenges in his first year as Area C director, but it was a valuable learning experience heading into 2016.
By Terry Schafer
The past year was a challenge in many ways for this first year Area C director.
The time commitment, as it’s always said in the training sessions, is what you make of it.
There’s more coming at you than can possibly be handled on one’s own so using time strategically is of the utmost importance.
It’s critical, as well, to direct people to the appropriate resource person as quickly as possible. I realize that at one year in I’m still a rookie but I hope to improve on that in my balance of term.
Certainly the drought the and early high temperatures this year dealt the local farmers a less-than-ideal hand and added to the frequency and severity of wildfires in our area.
In Area C alone the Willowbrook Road fire and the Wilson Mountain fire tested our local fire departments, who I think proved themselves up for the challenge.
The massive Testalinda fire crossed from Area C to Area A, and the smoke from these and other fires choked the whole South Okanagan and beyond for a time presenting a serious breathing environment for many.
Also significant in 2015 was the request for the RDOS to take over the Willowbrook Water System from the current private water purveyor.
This has required a consultant’s report that forms the basis for further analysis, and consent from the affected constituents is required through either an alternate approval process (cheap) or a referendum (expensive).
I’m hoping the former will prevail and that it’ll be concluded by mid spring.
An official community plan for Gallagher Lake was developed through the year and nears adoption.
One recommendation of that plan is already being planned, a pedestrian underpass at McIntyre Bridge. Staff is currently working on a cost sharing agreement with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. The underpass is a critically needed safety measure but will also eventually connect to the KVR trail by the river.
The KVR development Plan itself hit some not unexpected opposition when ‘claim’ postings appeared on poles locally.
A healthy difference of opinions has led to a motion to acquire tenure on the existing river right of way in order to reduce pressures on the farming community and to avoid some environmentally sensitive and critical habitat areas.
That motion passed unanimously at the Dec. 17th Board meeting.
2015 also saw the beginnings of a new working relationship with the Town of Oliver and our MLA Linda Larson. I’m hoping for a joint funding agreement on some badly needed street lights between Tumbleweed Park and Lions Park that will help keep local pedestrians a little safer.
All three levels of local government are concerned and committed to addressing the recent crime situation.
It’s a challenge but a concerted collaborative approach is, in my opinion, the only way to go.
