By Lyonel Doherty
The Town of Oliver is taking a big wish list to Vancouver on Monday.
That’s when members of council will start their meetings with several government ministers at the Union of BC Municipalities convention.
Attending from Oliver is Mayor Martin Johansen, Chief Administrative Officer Cathy Cowan, and councillors Aimee Grice, Larry Schwartzenberger and Petra Veintimilla.
One confirmed meeting is with the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General to discuss a new policing contract (once the Town surpasses 5,000 population in the next census).
When that happens, the Town must pay 70 per cent of policing costs instead of 30 per cent.
The other issue council will discuss with the minister is nuisance property legislation. Oliver’s Community Safety and Crime Prevention Committee recently adopted a priority to enhance bylaws to better address nuisance properties. This includes ensuring that local governments have the authority to enter these properties for inspection purposes.
Next up will be a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture about the Gallagher Lake siphon repair project.
While the province has committed $5 million in funding, the federal government has committed nothing, leaving local taxpayers to come up with the rest. (The total bill could be $8 million to $13 million.)
Another talk with the Minister of Public Safety & Solicitor General will be a joint meeting with Osoyoos on two topics: additional support for victim services (full-time positions for Oliver and Osoyoos); and an integrated drug enforcement unit to fight the war on street drugs.
In addition, council members will continue to press the minister to increase RCMP staffing levels in Oliver. The business case for an additional two officers was reportedly approved about two years ago but the community is still waiting for those resources.
A joint meeting with Osoyoos will see both council representatives talk to the attorney general about cracking down on prolific offenders and making it harder for them to repeat their crimes.
Next on the meeting agenda is a discussion with the Minister of Education about providing additional funding for the Okanagan Regional Library, which reportedly hasn’t had a “raise” in years.
Council also has a confirmed meeting with the Minister of Health about adequate emergency room staffing at South Okanagan General Hospital. This issue has plagued the facility for many years, resulting in periodic closures of the emergency department on weekends.
Oliver council is awaiting confirmation on a meeting with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to champion for affordable accommodation in the community.
Finally, council members hope to talk to solicitor general staff about a wine tasting pilot project.
This has been identified in the Town’s Strategic Plan – that council lobby/advocate for a tasting room for wineries.
The intent is to have a room in town where people can taste local wines without having to drive to different wineries while consuming alcohol.
