After multiple public meetings focused on cutting the 2024 budget after Osoyoos taxpayers bauked at the original 39 per cent hike in taxes and user fees, Osoyoos Council finally passed the budget with a lower 24 per cent increase, but without the support of two councillors – Jim King and Myers Bennett.
Osoyoos Councillor Myers Bennett along with Councillor Jim King have been appointed as representative and alternate, respectively, to the Okanagan Regional Library Board (ORLB) for a one year term.
Osoyoos Town Council is open to the idea of relooking at the budget in face of major discontent over a nearly 40 per cent hike in combined tax and user fees for 2024.
Osoyoos Council has approved a further grant of $4,747 to the South Okanagan Similkameen (SOS) Pride Society to assist with the funding of the second annual Pride Arts Festival in Osoyoos this fall.
Osoyoos Town Council approved $27,253 in Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) funding to five local organizations after considering requests totalling $77,000.
Osoyoos has registered its support for keeping the town’s gun range at its current location as the proposed National Park Reserve process moves forward.
The new Osoyoos Town Council was sworn in at its inaugural meeting on Nov. 1 following the election which saw incumbents Mayor Sue McKortoff returned along with Councillors Myers Bennett and Jim King, as well as newcomer Councillors Johnny Cheong and Zach Poturica.
For Osoyoos Mayoral candidate Dustin Sikora homeowners who break town bylaws prohibiting short-term rentals like Airbnbs are harming the town and its ability to have a stable supply of labour.
Some influential thumbs up were given to key resolutions last week to battle the health care crisis in B.C. Delegates at the Union of BC Municipalities convention voted on a number of resolutions.
A proposed 60-slip strata marina at 8000 Cottonwood Drive has locals struggling to see eye-to-eye with project designers about how comfortably 60 new powerboats can co-exist with other forms of recreation at Osoyoos Lake.
Osoyoos Council has approved the purchase of nearly $900,000 worth of vehicles after finding itself in a “financial pickle” from not keeping on top of fleet replacement.
Water metering was a hot topic of discussion at the most recent Osoyoos town council meeting and ensuring that residents are given ample education on the state of water conservation and the need for meters was at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
Another hotbed issue for Osoyoos town council is the issue of so-called park model homes.