Keremeos residents had the chance to raise local, provincial and federal issues they felt were important with mayor Manfred Bauer, MLA Linda Larson and MP Dan Albas on May 24.
The coffee and cookies sessions take place at the end of the month each month in the council chambers from 8 to 10 a.m.
Mayor Manfred Bauer said roughly 10 people came out on Friday. One issue that came up was concern about the burning farmers carry out in the valley, he said.
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“We have a lot of seniors with pulmonary and breathing issues and they suffer when there is a lot of smoke in the valley,” he said.
Another issue raised was Main Street not being swept soon enough. The sweeping took place on May 11 this year and many residents had said it took place too late.
Bauer said the village has been contracting out street sweeping services since it decommissioned its old sweeper unit several years ago, and this has created delays.
One resident who frequents the monthly session raised the issue of an unguarded area of Highway 3 near his house, Larson said.
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“They are afraid that vehicles will fall down on top of their actual residence if they go across the highway on Highway 3. They are asking for a barrier to be up there.”
Other issues raised included renewed talks about implementing solar panels around the village and the practicality of doing so considering how much sunlight the valley gets, Larson said.
Some other residents came in to discuss the fire prevention measures they are taking right now, which involve cleaning up parts of the neighbourhood so it is less of a fire hazard.