Petition presentation above
Michael Guthrie and partner Shirley Zelinski spoke to council and presented petitions from a recent Crime Forum calling for the installation of CCTV cameras at various spots in Oliver to limit the amount of criminal activity in the area…. Mayor Hovanes thanked the Oliver couple for making the public more aware of the problem but mentioned that he had been told at the recent UBCM convention that the opoid/drug dependency/crime problem was 20 years in the making and no ‘silver bullet’ had been found to solve the underlying problems quickly. Hovanes says council has some ideas/changes that are being discussed and needs a bit more time and discussion before an action plan is announced.
Canada Geese Cull – as it has for 8 years – council will allow 6 hunting permits for the eradication of non-migratory geese at Tuc-el-nuit Lake and the Oliver Airport.
Letter received from local Rotary Club offering to assist with funding for a new park near the bridge in Oliver. The local service organization would want it named ‘Rotary Peace Park’ – discussion on the matter indicated that only part of the former Centennial Park would need to be designated with that name. Council decided to review the offer and make it part of the public discussion scheduled for later this fall. Councillor Dave Mattes told council should be careful about granting naming rights especially before the public has had a chance to weigh-in on the discussion.
Grant in Aid – Penticton and Area Access Centre requested a grant for $6250 to help increase administrative assistance for their programs so an out-reach counsellor could access the community more frequently. Town Council has agreed to a one time conditional grant of $4500. All councillors agreed it was a good service for the community but that a permanent funding grant was not possible. According to a report the Access Centre operates out of the Park Drive Church three days a week, in Osoyoos 1 day a week and visits the Similkameen on a very limited basis. Some of its funding comes from the Regional District which represents funding from Oliver as well.
Irrigation Water Use – Growers will shut off use of irrigation water October 9th. The water from the river will cease to be diverted into the canal October 30, 2018 for the season.