Council on board for bus service expansion

Despite some fears that other jurisdictions might opt out and leave the town holding the bag, council agreed Monday to sign onto an expansion of the regional bus service that would see Osoyoos-to-Penticton runs go from four- to five-days-a-week.

The expansion would not go into effect until September 2017.

Oliver has agreed to sign the memorandum of understanding with BC Transit, but the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen (RDOS) has not. If the RDOS decides not to sign on, the town’s share of the added cost could go from about $4,000 to $8,000 for the last third of 2017.

There was some urgency to the proposal before council as the province has set a deadline of June 15 for submissions seeking to partake of parts of $12.7 million in additional transit funding over the next three years.

In the end, council decided that the expansion of bus service is important enough for the town to opt in and hope that the RDOS does the same.

The South Okanagan Transit System currently runs a bus from Osoyoos to Kelowna on Mondays and twice-a-day trips to Penticton on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The proposed expansion would see two additional trips to Penticton on Fridays.

Public input needed on conservation fund

The town will continue its practice of going slowly on the issue of whether to make any commitment to a local or regional conservation fund aimed at protecting the environment.

The Sough Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program has been seeking since 2013 to involve local governments and the RDOS in conservation programs aimed accomplishing environmental goals.

Program manager Bryn White appeared before a council committee meeting Monday, following up a visit last fall. In a letter to council, White said she was seeking “to discuss an approach that works for the community.”

Council decided Monday that it would begin a public consultation process this fall before making a decision on whether to participate in a fund and whether to do it locally or as part of a regional initiative.

At last November’s meeting, White said conservation funds provide for “undertaking ecological activities” and are typically funded by local taxpayers. An appropriate amount for a town like Osoyoos would be about $10 per year per household, she said.

Typical project types include:

• Watershed and drinking water protection;
• Fish and wildlife habitat restoration;
• Parkland acquisition;
• Protection of endangered species; or
• Trails network development.

No town services for winery just on the edge

Council refused a request access to town water and sewer services from a would-be winery and wine shop owner on Lakeshore Drive, whose property is just outside the town boundary.

Rajvinder Dhaliwal has received appropriate approvals from the RDOS for his winery project, but would like access to the town’s services under the Extraterritorial Service Provision policy.

He plans to have a winery functioning this fall and a wine shop next spring. As well, has proposed five “villa style accommodations” on the property at 5221 Lakeshore.

In a report to council, operations director Jim Dinwoodie said Dhaliwal indicated that he has no wish to join the town and that there is considerable uncertainty about the future water and sewer demands of the proposed villa development.

As well, he said, “Providing Mr. Dhaliwal’s property with (town) infrastructure resources would be establishing a precedent to do the same for (others).”

Council voted unanimously to deny the request.