Meetings of Monday January 27th

1. Award of  contract to Directional Drill in the amount of $67,567.oo – to drill and place pipe under the Okanagan River at the Buchanan Well site – north of Oliver. This is necessary to connection new wells to water mains on Park Rill Rd – on the west side of the river.

2. Permission granted to use $7000 from a pump repair contingency reserve to cover the total cost of replacing a 40 year old piece of equipment. at the Rockcliffe Irrigation Pump #1. Total cost $16,667. At December 31st 2013 – that reserve totaled almost $87 thousand.

3. Early spending approval given for 5 projects. $189, 500 approved for expenditures including a new dump truck (single axle with air brakes and snow removal equipment). The budget does not get final approval until the end of March so early spending approval allows staff to proceed with projects and purchasing already agreed to.

4. Council has agreed to lease the land under the Portuguese Club at the Community Park to the Oliver Parks Board for $1 and will draft such a lease. This will enable the Park Society to deal with a financial situation causing concern to members of the cultural group. Council will also consider waiving all land taxes.

5. Council will write a letter to Canada Post expressing concern about the number of break-in at community letter box sites in the area.

6. RDOS Chief Financial Officer Sandy Croteau made a presentation on the 2014 Budget affecting Oliver taxpayers. Because of assessment changes the percentage of costs that the town will bear has dropped. In 2014 the Town of Oliver will pay 56% of all joint service costs compared to 44 percent by rural residents of Area C. Each Oliver home will pay about $450 to the RDOS for garbage, heritage, general government, pool, parks, arena, and community hall functions. About $29 thousand is paid for 911 service and $50,000 for general governments cost of the Regional District.