Rdos
Changing standards trigger request for regional master fire plan
PENTICTON - A Fire Master Plan is being proposed for inclusion into the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen’s 2016 budget at a cost of $50,000. The item was part of budget talks today, Dec. 3, at the regional board budget meeting held at Penticton Lakeside Resort. Community services manager Mark Woods told the board the...
South Okanagan and Similkameen fire department radio upgrades nearing completion
PENTICTON - Cost savings are being realized as the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen moves into the final phase of its region-wide emergency communications upgrade. Planetworks Consultant Doug Joinson told a recent regional district board meeting the elimination of Okanagan Mountain as a radio repeater site saved $750,000 and $70,000 in annual maintenance costs. The...
Regional district looks to cut newspaper advertising costs in Okanagan-Similkameen
PENTICTON - After spending nearly $60,000 on advertising in newspapers last year the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen is hoping to reduce advertising costs going forward. Staff requested quotes from the region's print newspapers in late September. The hope is to reduce annual advertising costs from last year’s level of between $57,000 and $60,000 by placing...
RDOS governance study looking for resident participation
PENTICTON - The goal of the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen’s governance study in Electoral Area D is to get residents involved in the search for new ways to govern the rural area. The governance study offers residents a rare opportunity to share their perspective on how local government works — or how it doesn’t, according...
Third quarter projections anticipate budget surplus at Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District
PENTICTON - The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen is looking forward to a budget surplus this year, based on its third quarter financial report. Finance Manager Sandy Croteau says an overall surplus of $745,000 was anticipated on this year’s $37.2 million budget, amounting to two per cent of the budget total. Croteau reported a $50,000...
Continuing upgrades announced for Olalla’s water system
PENTICTON - The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen has announced the awarding of the engineering design for water main upgrades to Olalla's water system. The upgrades are part of a continuing program to renovate the Olalla water system, part of which was upgraded in 1999 when a new well, pump, concrete reservoir and pump house was...
Revived air quality program in South Okanagan-Similkameen up for discussion
PENTICTON - A Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen program that was axed in 2010 could come before the board of directors for discussion once again. Between 2006-2010, the regional district had an inter-regional committee that was meeting regularly between the RDOS, the Central Okanagan Regional District and the North Okanagan Regional District. The RDOS also...
Fire ban remains in place in Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen
PENTICTON - The B.C. Wildfire Service may have rescinded the campfire ban on lands within provincial jurisdiction, but Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen residents shouldn’t get the marshmallows out just yet. The regional district’s open fire ban remains in place for all lands which are contained within the regional district fire protection areas, including Anarchist...
RDOS board scuttles economic development bylaw
PENTICTON - Plans for a regional economic development fund came to a sudden end at last week’s regional district board meeting. Directors at the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen voted to rescind and abandon a new economic development bylaw at last Thursday’s regular board meeting. West Bench Director Michael Brydon spearheaded the effort to create a...
Regional directors discuss agricultural land use issues with ALC chair
PENTICTON - Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen directors discussed Agricultural Land Commission issues with the commission chair this week. Commission chair Frank Leonard gave directors a brief summary of his role and as chair and the present state of the land commission, before taking questions from the director’s board at their regular meeting Thursday. Leonard says...
Regional district study leaving Okanagan Falls incorporation out of discussions
PENTICTON - A study looking at the possibility of a new form of governance for Area 'D' in the Okanagan-Similkameen is underway. Last November the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development approved a $50,000 governance study for Electoral Area 'D' of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen. Area director Tom Siddon says six interest groups,...
Regional director seeks accountability from Fortis B.C. and the Utilities Commission
PENTICTON - A South Okanagan politician continues his campaign to make Fortis B.C. and the B.C. Utility Commission more accountable to the public for rate increases. Regional District South Okanagan-Similkameen director Tom Siddon has requested questions about Fortis B.C.'s two-tiered electrical rate system and the Commision's accountability be added to the agenda of the next...
Regional board continues to wrestle with economic development idea
PENTICTON - A question of transparency in how the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen hands out grants for economic development appears to have inspired directors to consider adding more money on it. It started with a simple concept at a committee meeting in February. Instead of giving the Okanagan Film Commission a grant-in-aid every year (last...
Court decision favours regional district
PENTICTON - A cooperative road paving initiative between the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen and the Ministry of Transportation ended up in court following a dispute between the regional district and its contractor, Associated Engineering. The problems began as a result of a 2005 water supply improvement project in Naramata that saw the regional district installing...
Smart meter fears prompt director’s motion
PENTICTON - The debate around smart meters in the South Okanagan was recharged following a director’s motion at a Regional District Okanagan SImilkameen board meeting last week. Electoral area 'D' Director Tom Siddon introduced a motion calling for a moratorium on smart meter installation in his area, inciting what Siddon called 'a worthwhile debate' amongst...