Gallagher Lake area committee chair Bill Barisoff took ODN on a brief walk around the areas of concern. Bill pointed to traffic speed and roadway lay outs that could be improved for safety.

Barisoff, a retired MLA and Speaker of the Legislature didn’t think he would be pulled back into local governance – but lives in the area, is connected to a family business and plans on staying a long long time.

Getting community services to the manufactured home parks is a priority but it would appear to be very costly for dwellings on the east side of Highway 97. It would take $10,000 at least for each home to connect without checking the infrastructure costs, monthly or annual fees etc. The Pine trees in the area have many deep roots that would hinder a sewer and water project.

He says even where the main sewer is already installed there is some resistance based on the cost.

Barisoff says he is interested in the OCP review process and believes a lot provincial help would be needed to fund all the work necessary for community services.

Thor Manson provided ODN with this overview of what is going on: “Advisory committee for RDOS Gallagher Lake Plan – 6 members with Bill Barisoff Chair. Manson is Vice-Chair. RDOS is represented by Donna Butler RDOS Development Services Manager and the Rural Director is Terry Schafer.

Open House held last Wednesday at the Welcome Inn. Participants were invited to look at displays, fill out a questionnaire and mark their support for different possible development projects on a chart.

The advisory panel is made up of residents from the ” Gallagher Lake ” area, and it seemed to me the general public who showed were from different parts of the area as well.

I guess I would say that not all the items that are being discussed are problems; kind of a mixture of what can be done to improve the area, as well as addressing challenges and problems.

Highway safety is definitely a concern for both sides of Highway 97. Speeding is prevalent, enforcement basically non-existent. With continuing residential development, something will eventually have to be done as more and more pedestrians and bicyclists are sharing the road with vehicles- maybe a controlled crossing???”

Recreation, mostly in the form of trail development is a priority. Possibility of “connecting the dots” of KVR trail on West side of highway with a goal of reconnecting with trail to Okanagan Falls and beyond, and to the Oliver Hike-Bike path in the other direction. Some residents are enquiring about public access to Gallagher Lake.

Residents not currently on water and sewer: mostly the East side of the highway. Major concern with providing these services as far as cost is concerned. Country Pines, and Cottonwood are both treed parks. What would it take to build a sewer system within these parks. Who would pay? Gas tax can pay one third of cost, but on private land??

Last time this was looked at 4 years ago the costs were astronomical. Many people in these parks are seniors and on fixed incomes. Big question. Why?? Weekly water testing by Interior Health shows water quality is high. Park managements pump septics on a fixed schedule. Recent perk test showed systems were working fine, and the systems have many more years of service. Water quality in Gallagher Lake itself also good.

Fire, anywhere in our region is always a concern. Some solace in the fact that Fortis substation is just north of area, and in the event of fire, response will be very quick.
Ponderosa Pines are pretty resistant to wind. Cottonwoods not so much, and they are not generally located where people live.