By ROY WOOD
In the last of a four-part series, ODN interviews Dave Mattes and Peter McKenna, candidates in the December 2 by-election to fill a spot on Oliver council.
- Sunday: Aimee Grice and Patrick Hampson
- Monday: Charles Pollard and Lutz Stelzner
- Yesterday: Susan Kosola and Donald Lawlor
The answers have been edited for length and clarity.
David Mattes is 60 years old. He was born in Oliver, left after high school and returned after 15 years. He retired at 50 from a life in the auto and motorcycle parts business.
What are the two most important issues facing council and where do you stand on them?
Finances, including policing costs and how can we make that affordable for people. I don’t believe in raising taxes until you need to. So, as harsh as the blow might be (when the town’s share of RCMP costs rises from 30 to 70 per cent after the next census in 2021) it’s best to do it when it arrives. Also, we need to look a little more closely at policing costs. We need to talk to the provincial government. We should look at our actual policing costs and see is there anything we should be doing to lower them. Are we being charged fairly? And the second biggest financial issue is the irrigation canal.
The second biggest group of issues are ongoing, development of downtown, attracting more people type of a thing. The basic business of the town is water, sewer, bylaw enforcement and property-development management, zoning and that sort of thing. So, the infrastructure is always an issue. Keeping that stuff up to date. I’m not sure it’s a big issue, but it’s an expensive issue.
What makes Oliver special?
Oliver is the only town in the Okanagan that doesn’t have a large, recreational lake. From Vernon to the border, they are all situated on a lake. So, Oliver offers a unique lifestyle, different from the rest of the Okanagan. We have great amenities. The parks and rec department. The wineries. The ways that we can attract people to Oliver are all here, but I think we need to do a way better job of letting the world know that.
What is one interesting thing about you that few people know?
I don’t know that there’s anything interesting about me.
What are two new ideas you will bring to the council table?
We need to look seriously at a plan to maintain the irrigation canal, that is the lifeblood of our farming economy. The canal is 100 years old. It was demonstrated at Gallagher Lake with rock falling on it that there are things that need to be solved. I don’t know that they’ve looked at the whole system.
I think we could attract more people here by expanding our bike path system. If we had a bike path that went from Vernon to the border, for example, people would come from around the world to travel that. And that’s the sort of thing that makes for a better downtown in a small town. We can paint the downtown, but that’s like putting lipstick on a pig, as I say to people. You have to give people a reason to stop.
In one sentence, why should anyone vote for you?
I have the experience, the ideas and the drive to make Oliver a better place.
###
Peter McKenna is 60 years old and has lived in Oliver for six and a half years. He is semi-retired, having worked in the grain industry in Vancouver and in security.
What are the two most important issues facing council and where do you stand on them?
Rejuvenation of Main Street. I think with the new hotel coming in, more businesses will come. It’s been proven all over BC, in the Lower Mainland and in Osoyoos. As soon as you have one hotel, more will come and it will be better for the town and better for businesses.
Safety for our seniors and our children. Main street traffic is a problem; vehicles shouldn’t be going 100 km per hour. We need better lighting for our streets. The drug dealing that goes on in this town; there’s lots of it, even though they hide it well. We need to take care of our young ones because they are our future. As well, if the RCMP can’t do the job of securing the stores and businesses, maybe we should look at getting security companies to come in and do patrols.
What makes Oliver special?
The weather. The people. Everything about Oliver is wonderful except for the few minor problems that we have. People enjoy coming here for holidays because they like the environment here. People are very friendly here, so they welcome people.
What is one interesting thing about you that few people know?
I’ve been on boards of directors for various things, such as Slo-Pitch BC. I’ve sat on forums for security down on the coast and on the Surrey outdoor sports advisory committee.
What are two new ideas you will bring to the council table?
Security and safety. Has to do with making the people of Oliver feel safe and secure – adults, seniors and kids.
Revitalization of Station Street. Being the president of the Legion, I see what happens on Station Street right now. It’s unreal with the vehicles just bombing through there. We need to be able to slow them down to the proper speeds.
In one sentence, why should anyone vote for you?
I’m here to represent the seniors, the adults and the children of this town and my door is always open.