The Board of Directors adopted Bylaw No. 2678, Electoral Area “C” Community Works Gas Tax Reserve Fund Expenditure which will allocate $13,000 for the completed and outstanding energy efficiency measures at the Willowbrook Fire Hall. In addition they bylaw will provide $7,100 for outstanding energy efficiency measures at the Oliver Landfill Scale Building.
The Board of Directors adopted Bylaw No. 2679, Electoral Area “C” Community Works Gas Tax Reserve Fund Expenditure which will allocate and additional $625,000 to Gallagher Lake Water and Sewer infrastructure.
The Board of Directors endorsed the Kaleden and Skaha Estates wastewater collection project for submission to the Building Canada Fund grant program in June 2014. As part of the application, the Regional District must demonstrate that their share of the funding has been, or will be secured. As the funds are not yet available, the option is to commit to completing a Referendum or Alternative Approval Process. The Board has approved completing a Referendum and associated bylaws in order to fulfill grant program application requirements.
The Town of Osoyoos administers the South Okanagan Transit System (SOTS) in partnership with BC Transit. A request from the Town of Osoyoos was brought to the Board in 2007 to take over the system. BC Transit would not consider the transfer of the system in the absence of a Transit Future Study for the region. As a result, Electoral Areas “A”, “C” and “D” have been contributing to the system through their individual Electoral Area Rural Projects budgets since 2008. Over the past 5 years Public Transit Infrastructure Program funding has been available to pay for the local share of the vehicle lease fees. This funding ends at the end of 2014/15 operating year which will leave all the funding partners with additional costs for transit service. The Board of Directors has approved an increase in the local share for the South Okanagan Transit System currently being funded by Electoral Areas “A”, “C” and “D” be added to the 2015 budget and have given direction to ensure that the South Okanagan Transit System be part of the 25 year Transit Future Plan.
The Faulder water system has experienced challenges with water quality and quantity. The Regional Board has authorized the purchase of a uranium treatment system from BI Pure Water (Canada) Inc. in the amount of $91,875. At a recent public meeting to discuss the uranium treatment system the community was supportive.
The West Bench Water Supply and distribution project is nearing completion and a parcel tax bylaw must be established to repay the capital debt. The parcel tax is established in relation to the outstanding debt of $2,290,000, and is applicable to 349 parcels at an annual rate of $548 for 20 years. Property owners may opt to commutate the parcel tax by making a onetime cash payment equal to the portion of the cost of the system assessed upon the parcel ($6,562) on or before January 9, 2015. The Board of Directors adopted Bylaw No. 2682, Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen West Bench Water Supply and Distribution Debt Financing Parcel Tax.
The Board of Directors adopted Bylaw No. 2640.01, Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen 2014 – 2018 Five Year Financial Plan Amendment. The amendments are as follows:
Solar Panels for Tulameen Arena Roof: $40,000
Arena Floor Replacement and Curling Rink Chiller Replacement: $60,000
Loose Bay Water System: $100,000
Loose Bay Washroom Facilities: $20,000
Elder Gathering Sponsorship: $5,000
Naramata Fire First Response Utility Vehicle: $ 36,000
Osoyoos Museum Society capital projects: $46,929
Oliver Parks and Recreation Arena Chiller Replacement: $18,000
Princeton Riverside Centre Roof: $110,000
Keremeos Fire Mini Pumper Vehicle: $12,000
Keremeos Fire Department Self Contained Breathing Apparatus: $110,000
Lakehill Road Pedestrian Pathway: $250,000
Area “H” Community Facilities Capital Reserve Projects: $150,000
101 Martin Street structural report and design: $ 56,000
Naramata Water – Arawana Road Water main Upgrades: $361,000
Electoral Area D-1 Official Community Plan review: $30,000
Apex Mountain Waste Transfer Station Site Design and Construction: $ 265,000
Regional Trails Farm Tractor: $ 27,000
Naramata Church Community Hall Heating/Cooling Upgrades: $5,500
Olalla Water System UV Treatment System: $200,000
Okanagan Falls Fire Hall Bay Floor: $ 28,000