Water levels remain healthy
Water levels remain healthy in Oliver and council has no plans to impose water-use restrictions. But staff will prepare a water-restriction bylaw just in case it’s needed in the future. Director of public works Shawn Goodsell told council that town wells and the aquifers that feed them are at acceptable levels and there is no need to take extraordinary measures to conserve water. Members of council agreed that the landscape around the town remains green and there is no evidence of a serious drought. Councillor Jack Bennest cautioned his colleagues against imposing water-use restrictions “just because other towns are doing it.” Mayor Ron Hovanes pointed out that water use has been 35% lower since water meters were installed in the town and residents and businesses started to pay for their water based on consumption. Council instructed staff to frame a bylaw that includes various levels of water-use restriction and objective criteria for imposing them.
Fresh look at parks behavior rules
The town will take another run at the park regulation bylaw after parks and recreation staff expressed misgivings about some aspects of the amendment intended to deal with inappropriate activity in public parks. Councillor Petra Ventimilla told council that parks and recreation staff would prefer that access to the park be limited to dawn to dusk, rather than 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. As well, the staff would prefer not to have the size of gatherings in the park limited to 25 people. “It is the use that is happening, not the number” that is the issue, she said. “Illegal activities are happening all the time.” There are also reservations about enforcement. “Asking a bylaw officer to go into a large group and asking them to disperse is asking for a confrontation,” she said. Council decided to rescind third reading of the bylaw and to discuss the matter at a future Committee of the Whole meeting.
No lights and siren for fire chief
Oliver fire chief Dan Skaros will have to get along without flashing lights and a siren in his personal pick-up truck after council turned thumbs down on his request to have the emergency equipment installed.
Skaros, in a hand-written note, said that since he attends nearly all fire department call-outs and is usually the first one there, it would make it easier to control traffic at a fire or accident scene if he had flashing lights. Chief Administrative Officer Heidi Frank told council that provincial regulations prohibit such emergency equipment on personal vehicles. Skaros earlier had the words Town of Oliver Fire Chief painted on the doors of his truck. Council put the matter, including the possibility of buying a truck for the fire chief, over until budget discussions in the fall.
New corporate officer named
Diane Vaykovich is Oliver’s new Corporate Officer. She replaces Cathy Cowan, who left to become Chief Administrative Officer in Keremeos.
Vaykovich has been the executive coordinator for the mayor, council and CAO in West Kelowna. The duties of Corporate Officer include: ensuring accurate minutes are taken at council and committee meetings; ensuring access to records of meetings; administering oaths; accepting notices on behalf of council; and keeping the corporate seal.