The five year financial plan for the RDOS has passed with some dissent as two municipalities continue to say they are upset with a plan to “go radio” for all fire dispatch in the region.

The plan calls for the discontinuance of internet/wire contact for fire dispatch out of Kelowna ~ to a new radio based system from Okanagan Mountain that will be in touch with all departments with towers in high elevation points.

Summerland and Osoyoos voted against the plan. Summerland rep Orv Robson said his municipality is negatively affected financially. Mayor Stu Wells of Osoyoos said his Fire Department asked him to vote NO and he did.

The remainder of the District, Princeton, Keremeos, Oliver and Penticton along with all rural areas voted yes.

One issue of contention is that the new system calls for a 2nd radio system for all local departments to keep connected to the dispatcher – rather than the present system.

The new system costs a lot of money but basically is paid for by the savings in moving dispatch to Kelowna.

February 9th – previous report

Okanagan Mountain (north and east of Penticton) will become the cornerstone of a new 1.6 million dollar upgraded fire dispatch system for Okanagan Similkameen RD.

That conclusion re-stated to a large gathering in Penticton Saturday that included fire chiefs, municipal managers, regional politicians, staff and media.

Fire Chiefs from Hedley, Anarchist Mountain, Tulameen, Summerland, Osoyoos and Oliver attended to hear a 4 hour outline of just how the present fire dispatch infrastructure will change in the next three years and what improvements are needed to make it all work.

Politicians stated the cost of a Telus phone-land-line system would be prohibitive and that the new recommended system will be controlled by the RDOS and financed over a long period of time keeping the cost down. RDOS Director Michael Brydon said that the RDOS directors wanted to know the alternatives/costs and all of those have now been reviewed with the radio based system the best of the systems presented.

How would this system work?

Fire Dispatch in Kelowna would broadcast a signal to Okanagan Mountain that would be received in Summerland, Penticton, Kobau Mtn. and Apex Mtn. with signals from the latter two towers going to 12 smaller fire departments in the region including Willowbrook, Kaleden, Keremeos and Princeton.  Dedicated land lines for Summerland and Penticton would be eliminated under the plan.