Airport Management
Town Council will ask the Province of BC for rights to develop one portion of the Oliver Airport for an airpark – housing for people with planes.
If that is approved Council will engage an engineer to plan and cost the infrastructure needed for such development. A report to council indicated that the sale of such leases could be a big help in paying for other work needed at the airport like taxi-ways and other improvements.
One concern expressed is that the south east quadrant of the airport is presently used as a training ground for the Oliver Fire Department. No lease is in place and council asserted that the Fire Department would be consulted once the plans for that area are firmed up.
The cost of an engineering survey would be about $8000 and that won’t be spent until the Town hears back from Victoria. The airport ownership is vested with the Town but a reverter clause indicates permission must be granted by the province for non-airport related uses.
Council gave the okay for a lease transfer on one general aviation hangar. Vic Seder relinquishing his hangar to neighbor Mike Beaulieu with the new lease still expiring in 2035.
Bylaw 1351 – water regulations
After 25 years most if not all bylaws reflecting the South Okanagan Lands and Irrigation District (SOLID) will be replaced by one piece of municipal legislation (Bylaw 1351 – Water regulations)
The province gave the Irrigation District to Osoyoos and Oliver in 1989 when it was deemed that the local water utilities could run the system – each community then elected two water councillors to help with decision making. First and second readings were given to the bylaw which will come back to council in its final form next month for adoption.
Loose Bay Campsite – water supply
On April 14 – Greg Norton of the Loose Bay Society told council that the existing water supply was being terminated but the society had a plan to bring water up the hill at Secrest to the Campsite. Council agreed to help in supplying the water and getting permits if the infrastructure could be installed and approved.
Since that meeting the RDOS has agreed to use gas tax funds to complete the capital works. Area C Director Allan Patton appeared before council Monday and requested that a joint service be established so that operating costs could be shared with all town and rural water users.
Council decided to give free water for the first year after installation of all pipes, pumps and other capital items and then sit down and review all costs of pumping and water supply to the campsite. This decision followed a lively debate and discussion about the number of joint services in Oliver and the need to continue working together to solve community problems.
Sani-Dump in Oliver
Albert Makarenko, a 4 yr resident in Oliver (6786 Mountainview Drive) appeared before council requesting that the town install a free sani-dump for locals and travelers passing through. After a recent trip to the USA, Makarenko attempted to use the sani-dump at Centennial Park and was told it would cost $10. It used to be $5, he said. Calling himself “a disappointed Oliver resident”. In a letter he stated “A box full of sour grapes to the Town of Oliver and Centennial Park”.
Makarenko said the $10 fee is meant to discourage travelers from stopping in the community and using the facilities. He says about 97 communities in BC have free sani dumps. Town staff indicated that new facilities could cost +$35 thousand and would compete with the contractor running Centennial Park. Council said it would review the request.
Resignation of Parks and Recreation board member
Several years ago Council appointed Tom Fortune to represent the Town on the OPRS board but due to ill health Tom as offered his resignation.
Council requested staff to advertise for persons who would like to be on the Parks and Recreation Society Board in the years ahead. That board has 3 representatives from the Town and 3 representatives from Rural Area C – plus a School Board representative and one from the Osoyoos Indian Band.