Acknowledging the value of the Loose Bay campground to the town, Oliver council agreed Monday to grant $2500 to help with operating costs for the year.

Several councillors insisted, however, that an accurate accounting of operating costs would be required in order for the town to continue helping the operation in the future.

The campground, established to accommodate itinerant fruit pickers, is the spring and summer home to fluctuating groups of from a couple of dozen to hundreds of agricultural workers, mostly young and from Quebec. It opened for this season on May 15.

The campground came into focus for council two weeks ago when a staff report indicated that water, provided free by the town to the campground, was not being used efficiently. The report indicated that the water consumed last season was worth about $4300, had the fees not been waived.

At the May 11 meeting, Water Councillor Andre Miller said, “We should tell them we’ll charge the full rate and they’ll fix it.”

Loose Bay spokesman Greg Norton appeared at council Monday to plead the case for Loose Bay, saying there had been technical difficulties involving the high-pressure water system.

He said a sprinkler that had been running 24 hours per day will not be used this year and that there will be “a significant reduction” in water consumption this season.

Councillor Jack Bennest told council he favours helping Loose Bay to continue operating, but through a grant-in-aid rather than a direct contribution to operating costs.

Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen Director Area C Terry Schafer said the ideal solution would be for the town and the RDOS to share the burden of supporting Loose Bay.

Mayor Ron Hovanes said council has always seen the benefits of Loose Bay, particularly to town parks where the transient pickers often congregated before the campground opened.

Council unanimously approved the $2500 grant, which will allow for accurate data collection around the operating costs of the campground.