OLIVER COUNCIL BRIEFS
Town will support Legion Banner program
The town will chip in what is needed to support the Legion with its Oliver Veteran Banner program.
The Legion has approached council and several service clubs in for financial support. The program would see 27 banners, each including the name of a local veteran, displayed along Main Street during October and early November.
In a report to council, corporate office Diane Vaykovich pointed out that similar programs are being established across the country and this could be “an opportunity to engage the community in honouring and remembering local veterans … for future generations.”
As well, she said, the project could be part of the town’s Canada 150 project during next year’s sesquicentennial celebrations.
Mayor Ron Hovanes said it would be a particularly appropriate action given that the town was founded largely by returning World War One vets.
Councillor Maureen Doerr said her fellow Rotarians were excited by the idea. “I think it would be awesome,” she said.
A budget proposed by the Legion would see $1,000 come from them, $2,500 from other service organizations and $1,000 form the town.
Council pledged to “find the money” for the project.
Planning for a future of foreign investment
In the hopes of eventually attracting foreign investment to the community, Oliver council committed $500 Monday for the second in what could be a many-stepped process.
The funds are for developing a framework that will lead to a strategy for actually getting foreign dollars invested in the South Okanagan Similkameen Economic Development Group. The first step was a strategy session earlier this year funded by Penticton.
Other partners will include Summerland, Penticton Indian Band, Osoyoos Indian Band and the provincial government.
According to a brochure from Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen, the idea is to produce, over the next five years, a strategy aimed at establishing a development framework, creating investment attraction programming and creating after-care supports.
Council agreed to find the $500 somewhere among leftover money in the 2016 budget.
Water board OKs money for Vaseux milfoil
Newly minted Okanagan Basin Water Board member Mayor Ron Hovanes told council Monday that the OBWB has approved funding to attack the Eurasian milfoil infestation at Vaseux Lake.
Hovanes said the board agreed to fund two harvesters to cut and dispose of the weeds and a couple of launching areas for the vessels.
The lake has seen a rapid increase in milfoil over the past few years, diminishing the recreational potential of the lake.
Some local residents believe the increase is a result of the installation of the Okanagan Falls Sewage Treatment Plant in 2013. But the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen disputes the charge.