RDOS Meeting scheduled for this Thursday January 22 – Main item – first reading of 2015 Budget – if approved public meetings will begin throughout the region.

Highlights from January 8 Regional Board meeting

The Willowbrook Fire Department utilizes water from strategically located water storage tanks for fire suppression purposes within their response area.  The location of one of these storage tanks is on crown land. The Board of Directors has authorized the Chair and CAO to execute a renewal agreement for the License of Occupation for 30 years.  The cost for this agreement is $1.00.

In July 2014 the Board of Directors gave three readings to the Frank Venables Theatre Service Establishment Bylaw No. 2660.  The bylaw provides for the administration and operation of a theatre in the Town of Oliver with an annual requisitioning of up to a maximum of the greater of $160,000 or $0.14 per $1,000 next taxable value of land and improvements in the service area to pay for the cost of the service.  The service area includes the Town of Oliver and all of Electoral Area “C”.  Elector approval for the adoption of the bylaw was sought through referendum.  The Electorate approved adoption of the bylaw with 1364 electors voting yes, and 458 electors voting no.  The bylaw has received the required approvals and the Board of Directors has adopted Bylaw No. 2660, Frank Venables Theatre Services Establishment Bylaw.

In 2008, the Upper Similkameen Indian Band, the Town of Princeton and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (Electoral Area “H”) began working together to pursue community forest tenure. In order to hold a community forest license, the Ministry of Forests requires that a corporation, society or cooperative be established.  The Board of Directors appointed Bob Coyne, Electoral Area “H” Director and Bill Newell, RDOS Chief Administrative Officer, and Sandy Croteau, RDOS Manager of Finance as alternate toe the Vermillion Forks Community Forest Corporation.