Discussions held and decisions made by Oliver Town Council March 25th.

1. Reviewed purchasing policy in an effort to make the process more transparent. Local suppliers and tradesmen invited to register with the Town in order to do business and have knowledge of commercial opportunities. Council recommended that an email list be set up so that opportunities for projects and work be sent to all on the registered list.

2. Reviewed the reserve policy in an effort to consolidate a number of smaller reserves and clear out items from the past that were based on decisions then but not relevant to today. The Town of Oliver is carrying reserves of about $2.5 million for many different  reasons – fire, roads, snow, cemetery, equipment, land sales, airport, library and solid waste.

3. National Park – council heard a report on when the Town has made statements or decisions on the possibility of a National Park after the City of Penticton requested such information. Town councillors opted to not respond to the request and basically stay out of the discussion at this time.

4. Council renewed a contract with Dave Casorso for farming/cutting of hay/forage crop on the airport. The five year contract is renewed each year and is in its 2nd year since the last tender process. The annual fee is $2750. The irrigation on the airport uses effluent and is part of a long range plan of using waste water on the land.

5. Council discussed water capital borrowing matters including the need for $1.5 million to fund a number of projects valued at $5.3 million. The additional money comes from developers, grants, and reserves. These projects include – the completion of rural water twinning north of Oliver, replacement of water services in the Hollow St., Hillside and Veterans Avenues  area, more chlorination projects and the completion of the Buchanan Well project.

6. The five year financial plan was adopted which includes 6.873 million dollars in expenditures for 2013 with the largest expenditures in the water utility with 2.56 million dollars budgeted for operations.

7. The Revitalization Tax Exemption Bylaw was read for a second time allowing for the publication of notices re this bylaw that encourages development in certain sections of Oliver including the airport, Main Street area,  planned higher density areas to the west of the downtown core and industrial areas.

8. Civic Addressing Bylaw was given all but final reading that makes it necessary for all landowners to identify their properties (business and residential) with the current civic addresses. Penalties for non-compliance are set out in the bylaw.

9. The Bylaw Enforcement Contract with Marshall Enforcement Services has been renewed for three years. The company provides about 1420 hours of service to the Town each year.

10. Letters: No proclamation for the Day of the Honey Bee (May 29) as requested by a Saskatoon letter writer as it is against the policy of the Town to make proclamations. A second letter about honouring a dead soldier believed to be from Oliver was referred to the Royal Canadian Legion and the Mayor will write a letter to a gentleman who wants to set up an electricity charge station for motor cars at a local winery.