30 people, mostly rural, attended a meeting Tuesday afternoon to plan strategy – against the removal of third party and farm signs along the Highway 97 corridor between Oliver and Osoyoos Lake.

Two main organizers Heide Held of Hillside Orchards and Greg Thorp of Riverside Gardens. Both stated that they wanted a meeting to let people speak and get organized in an effort to be heard.

They had invited a government staff member into the meeting to give information and make suggestions on a plan of action.

That man was Carl Withler, P. Ag. (Regional Agrologist) from Kelowna.

Withler told the group of farmers, land and sign owners that his purpose was to enhanced agriculture on this matter and would help to establish talking points for a meeting that he suggested that would see a small number of people (leaders) who could best take the messages and talking points to the RDOS and the Ministry of Highways.

Withler stated it was important to be focused and rational. His take was that third party signs will be gone and not much can be done about that. Signage he said in the government’s right of way is also not worth fighting – but the use of your own farmland is something where pushback might work with the right approach.

Safety issues (signs that give early warning of a turnoff) would be a good talking point. Size and types of signs on buildings or on farmland could be worked on. A number of people at the meeting expressed that third party signage is a freedom issue and landowners should be able to rent out space.

Some concern was expressed that this initiative of MOTI and the RDOS may have come from the organized winery association and that wineries have not been contacted with regard to their signage but this has not been confirmed. Tony Munday of OOWA (Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association) says it is his understanding that wineries have received letters as well notifying owners of any infractions. To the best of his knowledge the OOWA has made no official representation to government on the sign issue.

Tim Martiniuk also speaking for wineries says the Association has always wanted consolidated signs on some of the back roads – giving a professional look to travelers visiting the area seeking tasting venues. But he asserted that in no way is OOWA behind this move by the RDOS and Ministry of Highway. He says he expects to be treated in the same fashion as others if signage is deemed illegal.

Previously

Letters to property owners from Ministry of Highways and the RDOS should be going out shortly.

These signs must come down. Will be interesting in the next few months.

“Please conform” will move to the next step of “Must conform”